Microbial detection devices including adhesive masked nutrients and methods of using the same

1. A microbial detection device, the device comprising:

a body member comprising a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface;

a substantially dry, first microbial growth nutrient composition disposed on a portion of the first major surface;

a first adhesive composition adhered to the first microbial growth nutrient composition;

a cold-water-soluble first hydrogel-forming composition adhered to the first adhesive composition; and

a cover sheet attached to the body member, wherein the cover sheet comprises a first major surface facing the body member,

wherein each of the first adhesive composition, the first microbial growth nutrient composition, and the cold-water-soluble first hydrogel-forming composition is in the form of a layer, and wherein the first adhesive composition layer is located between the first microbial growth nutrient composition layer and the cold-water-soluble first hydrogel-forming composition layer.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a substantially dry, second microbial growth nutrient disposed on a portion of the first major surface of the cover sheet.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the second microbial growth nutrient composition comprises a second microbial growth nutrient and at least one cold-water-soluble gelling agent.

4. The device of claim 3 , further comprising a second adhesive composition adhered to the second microbial growth nutrient composition.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second adhesive composition disposed on a portion of the first major surface of the cover sheet.

6. The device of claim 4 , further comprising at least one cold-water-soluble gelling agent adhered to the second adhesive composition.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive composition comprises a solvent based adhesive.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive composition comprises an alkyl acrylate copolymer.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first microbial growth nutrient composition comprises a first microbial growth nutrient and at least one cold-water-soluble gelling agent.

10. A microbial detection device, comprising:

a water-proof pouch comprising:

a first wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a second wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a porous membrane filter disposed in the pouch between the inner surface of the first wall portion and the inner surface of the second wall portion, the membrane filter having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface;

a first compartment defined in part by the inner surface of the first wall portion and defined in part by the first major surface of the membrane filter;

a sealable sample port that provides access to deposit a liquid into the first compartment;

a second compartment defined in part by the inner surface of the second wall portion and defined in part by the second major surface of the membrane filter;

wherein the membrane filter permits passage of aqueous liquids from the first compartment to the second compartment and prevents passage of particles of a predetermined size from the first compartment to the second compartment;

a substantially dry microbial growth nutrient composition disposed on a portion of the pouch in the first compartment;

an adhesive composition adhered to the microbial growth nutrient composition;

a cold-water-soluble hydrogel-forming composition adhered to the adhesive composition; and

an absorbent pad disposed in the second compartment,

wherein each of the adhesive composition, the substantially dry microbial growth nutrient composition, and the cold-water-soluble hydrogel-forming composition is in the form of a layer, and wherein the adhesive composition layer is located between the substantially dry microbial growth nutrient composition layer and the cold-water-soluble hydrogel-forming composition layer.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the device is dimensioned to receive a liquid sample having a volume between 25 mL and 150 mL, inclusive.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the microbial growth nutrient composition comprises a microbial growth nutrient and at least one cold-water-soluble gelling agent.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the microbial growth nutrient comprises at least one of a meat peptone, a casein peptone, a gelatin peptone, a soy peptone, a beef extract, a yeast extract, lactose, glucose, dextrose, tryptose, galactose, tryptone, a fat, a mineral, or a vitamin.

14. A method for detecting and enumerating at least one microorganism in a sample comprising:

providing a device according to claim 1 ;

separating the first layer from the second layer;

adding a predetermined volume of a sample containing at least one microorganism onto the first hydrogel-forming composition to form an inoculated device;

contacting the first layer back to the second layer;

incubating the inoculated device; and

detecting the presence or an absence of a colony of the target microorganism in the device.

15. A method for detecting and enumerating at least one microorganism in a sample comprising:

providing a device according to claim 10 ;

placing a predetermined volume of aqueous sample into the first compartment of the device;

sealing the sample port;

incubating the device; and

detecting the presence or an absence of a colony of the target microorganism in the device.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive composition protects the first microbial growth nutrient composition from washing off when a fluid sample is introduced into the device due to covering the first microbial growth nutrient composition.