this invention describes a method of rapid detection of micro - colonies of microorganisms by changing their shape from a regular semi - sphere to a long and thin cylinder . cells are trapped by filtration in long , cylindrical , parallel , micro - channels that are open from both sides , and attached to a filter from one side . a micro - channel plate houses a multiplicity of micro - channels . the micro - channel plate with cells trapped on the surface of the filter is attached to a nutrient media agar block . cells produce micro - colonies of a long and thin shape according the shape of the micro - channel . the growth of microorganisms in the micro - channels permits a change in the number of cells to accomplish light absorbance . fewer cells need a shorter time to reproduce . thus detection and counting of cells can be accomplished in a rapid fashion .