An Antimicrobial Removal Device (ARD) is proposed as an alternative to membrane filtration in the sterility testing of antibiotics. The device consists of a glass vial containing adsorbent resins which completely removed the antibacterial activity of a range of antibiotics without affecting the recovery of contaminating bacteria. The method is simple to use and has several advantages compared to membrane filtration including easier aseptic handling and lack of antibiotic carry‐over to subculture media. A problem with resin turbidity in subculture media was overcome by the use of an indicator medium or by subculture into fresh mediu