Agglomerated microbiological media

1. A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated microbiological nutrient medium, the method comprising:

introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber;

wherein the nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism selected from the group consisting of a bacterium, a yeast and a mold; wherein the agglomeration liquid is introduced as an atomized spray;

wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles; and

exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium; and

isolating a subpopulation of the particles having a size distribution range being about 149 microns to 1000 microns,

wherein the subpopulation of the particles having a size distribution range being about 149 microns to 1000 microns is a second subpopulation, and further comprising a step of isolating a first subpopulation having a particle size distribution range of about 105 microns to about 2000 microns.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agglomeration liquid comprises a solvent having a dissolved nutrient that facilitates the growth of a microorganism.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein introducing a nutrient component comprises introducing a substantially uniform mixture of two or more powdered nutrients.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more powdered nutrient is selected from the group consisting of a protein, a carbohydrate, a salt and a mixture of any two or more of the foregoing powdered nutrients.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of subjecting the dried agglomerated nutrient medium to a process that reduces the number of viable microorganisms in the dried agglomerated nutrient medium.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein subjecting the dried agglomerated nutrient medium to a process that reduces the number of viable microorganisms comprises exposing the dried agglomerated nutrient medium to ionizing radiation or to ethylene oxide vapor.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to drying conditions comprises exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to a temperature of about 60° C. to about 85° C.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agglomeration liquid consists of water.

9. A method of making a thin film culture device, comprising

making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium according to the method of claim 1 ; and

disposing the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium on an adhesive layer of a self-supporting waterproof substrate having first and second major surfaces and an adhesive layer that is disposed on at least a portion of the first major surface such that the flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium is in fluidic contact with a dry, cold-water gelling agent.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a cover sheet is coupled to at least a portion of the self-supporting waterproof substrate.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cover sheet has a first side facing the first major surface, and further wherein at least some of the dry, cold-water gelling agent is adhered to at least a portion of a first side of the cover sheet.