DEVICE FOR GROWING MICROORGANISMS

1 . A device for growing microorganisms, comprising:

a body member comprising a self-supporting, water-proof substrate having upper and lower surfaces;

a fluid control film on the upper surface of the self-supporting, water-proof substrate;

a cover sheet having an inner-facing surface and an outer-facing surface, the cover sheet adhered to at least a portion of the body member; and

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

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

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

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid control film comprises a plurality of microreplicated structures.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid control film comprises a plurality of fluid control channels extending along a channel longitudinal axis, each of the fluid control channels comprising a surface and configured to allow capillary movement of liquid in the channels.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid control film comprises a hydrophilic surface treatment covalently bonded to at least a portion of the surface of the fluid control channels.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid control film comprise a noncovalent hydrophilic surface treatment disposed to a least a portion of the surface of the fluid control channels.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid control film has a contact angle less than 90 degree.

7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second adhesive composition adhered to the upper surface of the self-supporting waterproof substrate, wherein the second adhesive composition is in between the hydrophobic spacer element and the substrate.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer element comprises a hydrophobic foam sheet.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the hydrophobic foam is polystyrene or polyethylene foam.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the cover sheet comprises a transparent film.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the film is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and silicone.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a film selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene and polystyrene.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of xanthum gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and algin.

14 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a hydrophobic spacer element adhered to the upper surface of the substrate forming side walls to retain a predetermined amount of liquid in contact with the substrate, wherein the hydrophobic spacer element has a hole therein and wherein the fluid control film is in the hole of the hydrophobic spacer element.

15 . A method comprising:

providing a device according to claim 1 ;

adding a predetermined volume of a sample containing at least one microorganism into the device to form an inoculated device;

contacting the cover sheet to the self-supporting, water-proof substrate;

incubating the inoculated device; and

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