Liquid scintillation vial for cumulative and continuous radiometric measurement of in vitro metabolism.

A two-compartment vial is described in which suspensions of bacteria, cells, or tissues may be cultured and their growth and metabolism measured radiometrically by using a liquid scintillation counter. The device consists of a scintillation vial lined with a cylinder of scintillating paper into which is placed a sterilized inner culture vial containing a carbon-14 substrate. The assembled device can be carried by the sample transport systems of conventional liquid scintillation counters. Evolved (14)CO(2) is collected and measured cumulatively and continuously. The device can be constructed simply and economically from readily available reagents and glassware. Data are given on relative sensitivity and on the effect of the color and transparency of the inner vial. A pilot experiment with bacteria (Escherichia coli) is described.