Microbiological Tools To assist with transferring cultures to the different types of media there are a few different types of tools that can be utilized. Inoculating loops also called a smear loop, inoculation wand is a simple tool used mainly by microbiologists to retrieve an inoculum from a culture of microorganisms. The loop is used in the cultivation of microbes on plates by transferring inoculum for streaking. Bacterial spreaders cell spreaders are ideal for spreading bacterial cultures evenly; the L-shape allows application on the entire petri dish or plate surface Needles Are ideal for creating stab cultures in deep tubes

Aseptic Technique Aseptic technique is a fundamental and important laboratory skill in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists use aseptic technique for a variety of procedures such as transferring cultures, inoculating media, isolation of pure cultures, and for performing microbiological tests. Aseptic technique takes a conscious effort to not contaminate your equipment and culture with non- sterile materials

Aseptic Work Flow Components Clean work environments Always wipe counters before and after use with 70% isopropyl alcohol or 10% bleach solution PPE Gloves should be worn and changed often with start and completion of tasks Cap & recap Care should be taken to ALWAYS recap media Lids of culture plates should not be fully removed when not necessary Aerosol formation Do not agitate liquid broth Do not reach over sterile containers Lids of plates should be tilted away from burners

Aseptic Technique – bacteria culture Transferring from a broth to a plate Heating the inoculating loop Loop should be held in the dominant hand and passed through the blue cone of the burner for sec Loop cannot be put down once procedure has begun Grab broth tube with your non-dominant hand and unscrew cap with the pinky of the hand holding the loop Do not put the cap down Pass the mouth of the tube over the flame of the burner Populate the loop by introducing the tube to the loop Eliminates the accidental creation of aerosols Pass the mouth of the tube through the flame again, recap broth tube and set aside Lift the lid of the plate to be populated with your non-dominant hand Create your streak plate while tilting the lid of the plate away from the flame Recap the plate & set aside Reheat the loop as in the first step and set aside Clean work surfaces & discard gloves

Properly Labeling Media Plates Petri dishes should be labeled before plating occurs Label should be at the bottom edge in a semi-circular fashion and should contain Preparation labeling: Type of agar Any additives Date poured Initials of person pouring Culture labeling Organism Plate series # (if bacterial series is being performed) Date and initials Slants and broths labeled the same way on the edge of the tube