JPH10262646A - Packaged culture medium and production of packaged culture medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain a packaged culture medium capable of preventing the intrusion of various microbes and excellent in long period storage stability and convenience at a low cost by sealing a vessel receiving a culture medium therein with a specific bag and subsequently irradiating the package with radiations to sterilize the culture medium. SOLUTION: This packaged culture medium is obtained by sealing a vessel 2 receiving a culture medium 3 therein with a gas barrier bag 4 for the packaging and subsequently irradiating the packaged product with radiations such as gamma rays or electron beams from the outside of the bag 4 to sterilize the packaged culture medium. A gas-permeable portion comprising a nonwoven fabric is preferably partially disposed in the bag 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packaging medium which can be easily used for culturing and growing microorganisms and fungi, and a method for producing the packaging medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a coagulation medium for culturing and growing microorganisms and fungi, when a predetermined amount of coagulation medium is placed in an individual culture container such as a petri dish and used, a sample is added to the coagulation medium in the culture container. There is a medium in a container which is transplanted to make it easily usable. When producing this containered medium,
Conventionally, a culture medium powder material is dissolved in water at 60 to 70 ° C. to form a liquid, and the liquid medium is sterilized and sterilized by a high-pressure steam sterilization method, and then the liquid medium is used in a culture container such as a petri dish. A method is adopted in which an appropriate amount is dispensed on the side and the lid is solidified.

[0003]

The conventional medium in a container is manufactured by disinfecting the medium in a liquid state by a high-pressure steam sterilization method and dispensing the sterilized medium into the main body of the culture vessel. Therefore, when completely sterilizing and disinfecting everything including the culture container, the sterilization and disinfection of the culture medium and the culture container are separated, and the medium and the culture container are sterilized separately in separate processes. There are disadvantages that must be met.

[0004] Further, since the medium is sterilized only when the medium is in a liquid state, and then the medium is simply put into a culture vessel such as a petri dish and coagulated, the medium in the air is introduced into the culture vessel at the stage of distribution and storage. There is a risk that the germs may enter and grow on the medium. For this reason, in order to prevent the invasion of various bacteria and the like in the air, it is necessary to pack the medium-containing container in a sealed state in a clean and sterile environment, and maintain that state until immediately before use. , Very difficult. Therefore, conventionally, as a second best measure, a method of refrigerated storing a container containing a culture medium is adopted so that even when a germ enters the culture vessel, the germ does not proliferate in the culture medium in the culture vessel. For this reason, conventionally, a refrigerator is required at each stage of distribution and storage, and there is a disadvantage that distribution and storage costs are significantly increased.

[0005] In addition, the refrigerated storage method only suppresses the growth of bacteria invading the culture vessel, but does not prevent the invasion of bacteria in the air itself. It is also conceivable that invading bacteria at the stage before refrigeration during cultivation grow and it becomes impossible to distinguish the bacteria from the fungus of the specimen. The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and can be easily and inexpensively manufactured.
An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging medium which can prevent invasion of various bacteria at a stage before use, and which can be distributed and stored at room temperature, and a method for producing the packaging medium.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a medium 3 is placed in containers 2 and 14, and the containers 2 and 14 are sealed in a bag 4 for packaging and sterilized. It is. Claim 2
The present invention described in (1) uses the bag (4) made of a sheet-like bag material (7) having gas barrier properties in the bag (4) according to the invention described in (1).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, sterilization is performed by radiation disinfection. The present invention described in claim 4 is based on claim 1.
Alternatively, in the invention described in Item 2, the bag 4 is provided with a ventilation portion 13 made of a nonwoven fabric in a part thereof. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the containers 2 and 14 containing the culture medium 3 are sealed in a packaging bag 4 having gas barrier properties. The sterilization is performed by irradiating the bag body 4 with radiation from outside.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 illustrate a first embodiment of a packaging medium 1 according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the packaging medium 1 is obtained by putting a coagulation medium 3 in a petri dish 2, enclosing the petri dish 2 in a bag 4 for packaging, and sterilizing it by radiation disinfection.
The petri dish 2 is an example of a culture vessel, and includes a flat circular main body 5 and a lid 6 detachably mounted on the opening side of the main body 5. The petri dish 2 is made of a synthetic resin.

The coagulation medium 3 is placed on the main body 5 side of the petri dish 2,
It is inserted so as to have a substantially uniform thickness over the whole. The coagulation medium 3 is a coagulation medium such as an agar medium using agar as a main support. The bag 4 for packaging has flexibility and gas barrier properties, and is formed using a sheet-like bag 7 made of a synthetic resin made of a single polyethylene film or a polymer of a polyethylene film and a polypropylene film. And
A Petri dish 2 containing a coagulation medium 3 is placed and sealed therein. Note that the bag body 4 is provided with a notch 8 for opening on one side of the two seal portions 9.

In the case of producing the packaging medium 1, the medium powder material is dissolved in water at 60 to 70 ° C. to make it liquid.
This liquid medium material is dispensed into the body 5 side of each petri dish 2 in an appropriate amount and the lid 6 is closed to solidify. Next, the petri dish
After 2 is put in the bag 4 for packaging, the opening side of the bag 4 is sealed with an appropriate amount of air in the bag 4. And
As shown in FIG. 3, the bag 4 in which the petri dish 2 containing the coagulation medium 3 is enclosed is transported to a disinfection room by a conveyor line 10 or the like, and radiation such as γ-rays and electron beams is irradiated from above by a radiation irradiation device 11. Irradiate the coagulation medium 3 from outside the bag 4
Sterilize the Petri dish 2 and the bag 4 with sterilization.

When sterilizing and sterilizing by irradiating radiation from the upper side of the bag body 4 with the radiation irradiating device 11, radiation is applied to the sheet-like bag material 7 of the bag body 4, the lid 6 of the petri dish 2, the coagulation medium 3, and the like. Each material thickness, coagulation medium 3 to be attenuated
The radiation dose may be determined according to the thickness of the coagulation medium, but it is necessary to ensure that at least the bottom side of the coagulation medium 3 can be sterilized and disinfected. When this packaging medium 1 is used, the bag 4 may be opened from the cutout 8 and the petri dish 2 therein may be taken out. Thereafter, it can be used simply as in the past.

The packaging medium 1 has the following advantages. In other words, after enclosing the Petri dish 2 containing the coagulation medium 3 in the bag 4 and then sterilizing the entirety including the bag 4 by radiation disinfection, the coagulation medium 3 and the Petri dish 2 are sterilized simultaneously in one step. The operation is easier and inexpensive compared to the conventional case where the disinfection step on the coagulation medium 3 side and the disinfection step on the petri dish 2 side are separated.

In particular, since radiation is disinfected by irradiating radiation from the outside of the bag 4 with the radiation irradiating device 11, the petri dish 2 containing the coagulation medium 3 is sealed in the bag 4 and sterilized in a sealed state. Disinfection can be performed. In addition, since the petri dish 2 containing the coagulation medium 3 is sealed in the bag 4 and then subjected to radiation disinfection, the radiation
The inside air can be sterilized and disinfected at the same time, the invasion of bacteria from the outside after disinfection can be prevented by the bag 4, the sterilized state can be maintained until the bag 4 is opened, and the bacteria can be removed at the stage before use. Intrusion can be prevented beforehand.

Furthermore, since there is no possibility that various bacteria enter the bag 4 unless the bag 4 is opened, the bag 4 is
It is not necessary to keep the temperature low at each stage of storage, and a refrigerator is not required, and the distribution and storage of the packaging medium 1 are greatly facilitated, and the distribution cost and storage cost can be significantly reduced. Further, since the bag body 4 has a gas barrier property, moisture in the coagulation medium 3 is less diffused, and storage at normal temperature is possible, and long-term storage is possible.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention,
A sealing seal 12 is provided on the opening side of the main body 5 of the petri dish 2. In the packaging medium 1 of this embodiment, after the culture medium 3a is put in the main body 5, a sealing seal 12 is attached to the opening side of the culture medium 3a and the package 3 is sealed. In this case, even if a liquid or fluid medium is used as the medium 3a, the medium 3a does not leak from the main body 5 of the petri dish 2. Therefore, as the medium 3a, not only a coagulation medium but also a liquid or fluid medium can be used.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a bag 4 is formed using a synthetic resin sheet-like bag 7 and a part thereof is formed of a nonwoven fabric. The ventilation portion 13 is provided in a belt shape. In this case, after enclosing the Petri dish 2 containing the coagulation medium 3 in the bag body 4,
It is put into a gas disinfection room and sterilized by gas disinfection using high pressure gas. At this time, the disinfecting gas enters the bag 4 from the nonwoven fabric vent 13 and sterilizes the coagulation medium 3 in the petri dish 2.

[0017] Therefore, sterilization can be performed by the gas disinfection method, and the initial cost of the manufacturing equipment can be reduced as compared with the radiation disinfection method. In addition, since the ventilation portion 13 is formed of a nonwoven fabric, the ventilation portion 13 can capture bacteria that are likely to enter from the outside, and can prevent the invasion of the bacteria. FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate fourth to sixth embodiments of the present invention, in which a culture vessel 14 is constituted by an elongated main body 5 having a bottomed cylindrical shape and a lid 6 detachably attached to the opening side thereof. And
The medium 3a is put on the main body 5 side and sealed in the bag body 4.

The culture vessel 14 shown in FIG. 7 is configured such that the fitting portion 15 side of the lid 6 is removably inserted into the opening side of the main body 5 and closed. The culture vessel 14 shown in FIG. 8 is provided with a male thread 16 on the outer periphery of the opening side of the main body 5 and a female thread 17 on the inner periphery of the lid 6, respectively.
The two screw portions 16 and 17 are screwed together to removably close the plug. The culture vessel 14 of FIG. 9 is provided with a spiral ridge 18 on the outer periphery of the lid 6 on the side of the fitting section 15, and the fitting section of the lid 6 is detachably attached to the opening side of the main body 5 via the spiral ridge 18. I try to insert it.

The present invention can be similarly implemented when the culture vessel 14 having such a structure is used. As the medium 3a, a liquid or fluid medium can be used in addition to a solidifying medium having coagulability. As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. For example, the culture vessel 14
May be made of glass other than synthetic resin. Also bag 4
The sheet-like bag material 7 used for the above-mentioned method may be any as long as it can prevent invasion of various germs and the like, and may be made of a material other than synthetic resin. A solid medium may be used as the medium 3a.

[0020]

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, a culture medium is provided.
Put 3,3a in containers 2 and 14, and put containers 2 and 14 into
Since the packaging medium 1 is sterilized and sterilized, the packaging medium 1 can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and the invasion of various bacteria at the stage before use can be prevented, and the medium can be distributed and stored at room temperature. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the bag body 4 made of the sheet-like bag material 7 having gas barrier properties is used, it can be stored at room temperature, and the packaging can be carried out. Culture medium
1 can be stored in a sterile condition for a long time.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since sterilization is carried out by radiation sterilization, the culture container is placed in the bag 4.
Sterilization can be performed externally even with 2,14 sealed. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the ventilation part 13 made of a nonwoven fabric is provided in a part of the bag body 4, the sterilization of the culture media 3, 3a in the bag body 4 by gas disinfection is performed. It is possible. According to the invention of claim 5, medium 3,3a
Bags for packaging with gas barrier properties
4 and sterilize it by irradiating it with radiation from the outside of the bag 4, so that the packaging medium 1 sealed with the bag 4
Can be easily and inexpensively manufactured, and sterilization can be surely performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a packaging medium showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a packaging medium showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a method for disinfecting a packaging medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a packaging medium showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a packaging medium showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a packaging medium showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a packaging medium showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a packaging medium showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a packaging medium showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Petri dish (container) 3 Coagulation medium 3a Medium 4 Bag 7 Sheet-shaped bag material 13 Ventilation section 14 Culture vessel

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claims 1. The medium (3) (3a) was placed in containers (2) and (14), and the containers (2) and (14) were sealed in a packaging bag (4) for sterilization. Characterized packaging medium. 2. A bag material having a gas barrier property.
The packaged medium according to claim 1, wherein a bag (4) made according to (7) is used. 3. The packaging medium according to claim 1, which has been sterilized by radiation sterilization. 4. The packaging medium according to claim 1, wherein a vent (13) made of a nonwoven fabric is provided in a part of the bag (4). 5. The containers (2) and (14) containing the culture media (3) and (3a) are enclosed in a bag (4) for packaging having gas barrier properties, and radiation is applied from outside the bag (4). And sterilizing by irradiating the medium.