Patent ID: 7531163

Claim:
A method for detection of a particular pathogen or other microbe, comprising: obtaining a test sample at a first location, the sample being solid or semi-solid; diluting, at the first location, the sample with liquid enrichment medium at a ratio of sample to diluent of between about 1:0.1 to about 1:2 (wt./vol.), or lesser dilution; incubating the diluted sample at an optimal temperature for the particular pathogen or other microbe to be detected in an incubator during transit of the diluted sample to a second remote location that is not the site of sample collection; and determining, at the remote test location, by assaying the diluted incubated test sample, or a portion thereof, with an assay suitable to detect the particular pathogen or other microbe, whether the sample is contaminated with the particular pathogen or other microbe.