a plastic tubular member , open longitudinally along one side , is compartmented across its width to receive a plurality of media for supporting different bacteria cultures ; and is equipped with an inoculating wire which extends axially along the tubular member through aligned intramural openings between the compartments . to prevent contamination between compartments , and maintain them in a sterile condition before introduction of bacteria cultures , the intramural openings are sealed with drops of wax in a two - step process . in a first step , the inoculating wire , which extends beyond the ends of the tubular member , serves to support the tubular member with the compartment openings directed downward over a vat of molten wax . a reciprocating comb having a plurality of prongs is mechanically moved from a lower position in which it is immersed in the molten wax , to an upper position , in which the prongs engage the compartment openings . the prongs of the comb have recesses or v - shaped notches in the upper ends , which function to carry puddles of molten wax to immerse and coat portions of the inoculating wire when the prongs engage the respective tubular compartments . in a second step , the plastic tubular member is disposed in a vertical position with the terminals of the inoculating wire engaged in closed - contact relation with the contacts of a heater circuit which heats the inoculating wire causing the wax deposits thereon to flow into and hermetically seal the space between the wire and the aligned intramural openings in each of the compartments .