Patent ID: 8753835

Claim:
A compressed gas microbial test unit, comprising: a housing extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, the housing defining an internal cavity comprising a decompression region for decompressing compressed gas input to the internal cavity and a sampling region in fluid communication with the decompression region for containing a growth medium substrate, the decompression region and the sampling region defining a flow path through the internal cavity; a plate disposed in the internal cavity and separating the decompression region and the sampling region, a surface of the plate defining at least a portion of the decompression region and an edge of the plate defining an outer periphery of the plate, the outer periphery of the plate being radially spaced from an inner surface of the housing with respect to the longitudinal axis; a gap between the outer periphery of the plate and the inner surface of the housing, the gap defining a passageway for the fluid communication between the decompression region and the sampling region; and an inlet at the first end of the housing proximate the decompression region and an outlet at the second end of the housing proximate the sampling region, the inlet communicating with the decompression region such that compressed gas entering the decompression region from the inlet is incident on the plate for effectuating decompression of the gas prior to the gas passing through the gap and into the sampling region.