The present invention provides novel enrichment, testing and detection methods for detection of pathogens or other microbes in a food, water, wastewater, industrial, pharmaceutical, botanical, environmental samples and other types of samples analyzed by enrichment-detection methods. In preferred aspects, a sample is obtained at a first location and is diluted (e.g., in the case of a solid or semi-solid sample or liquid) at the first location at a ratio of about 1:0 (wt./vol.) to 1:2 (wt./vol.), or greater, preferably at a ratio of about 1:0.1 (wt./vol.) or greater, or more preferably, at a ratio of about 1:2 (wt./vol.) or greater. The diluted sample is incubated at an optimal temperature in an incubator and either tested locally, or sent in a shipping incubator to a second location that is a remote test location. The incubated sample is received and tested at the second location by assaying the sample, or a portion thereof, with an assay suitable to detect the pathogen or other microbe. In alternate embodiments, no dilution at the first location is required, and optionally minimal additions to adjust intrinsic deficiencies may be made, but the sample is nonetheless incubated during transit to the test location.
