Patent ID: 7709241

Claim:
A method for processing microbial cultures comprising: loading a plurality of sample tubes filled with culture media into at least one tray; placing said at least one tray onto a rack, said rack maintaining said at least one tray and the sample tubes within that tray in a position wherein the culture media slants at a slant angle within said tubes wherein the slant angle is measured from the sample tubes in a horizontal position; sterilizing said tray holding said plurality of tubes filled with culture media in a sterilizing apparatus; cooling said rack and tray holding said plurality of tubes filled with culture media and said rack after completion of the sterilizing step, so that the culture media solidify within said tubes at said slant angle; and transferring said tray holding said plurality of tubes after the cooling step from said rack into shipping packages for shipment, wherein said tray is ready for use by an end user.