The kit includes...
- One 350ml bottle of ready-to-pour nutrient agar.
- One sleeve of 20 sterile, 100x15mm plastic petri dishes.
- 20 individually wrapped, sterile swabs.
- Directions for preparation and use.
Instructions for Using Ready-To-Pour Nutrient Agar - 350ml Bottle
Nutrient agar is used to culture a variety of bacteria, plus yeasts and molds.
Items needed...
- Bottle of Ready-To-Pour Nutrient Agar.
- Sterile swabs - At least one per dish.
- Sterile Petri Dishes (pk/20).
- Masking Tape.
The 350ml bottle can serve to fill 14 petri dishes with approximately 25ml of agar to depth of 6-7mm.
Procedure...
- Leave cap on bottle and loosen prior to placing in a microwave. To accommodate variations in the latter, melt bottle contents in one minute intervals which may be repeated until contents liquify. Allow 2-3 minutes for melting between microwave heating. Use hot-pad gloves to handle bottle between these insertions.
- If cap is not loosened, air won’t vent and bottle will crack. A double-boiler arrangement can also serve to melt bottle contents on a stove top.
- Pour liquified agar into each plate, anticipated to need for the test, and cover the bottom to about 6-7mm. Allow to harden or firm up at room temperature (24 hours or less). Plates are now ready to inoculate or refrigerate for later use.
- To begin (the test), wipe swab over item to be tested.
- Wipe the swab on the agar surface back and forth or in a pattern - lines, curves, figures - and label each dish with pattern description and a dish number.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 for each petri dish in the test.
- Cover the agar test dishes and secure lid with tape.
- Store dishes upside down (condensation can’t fall and dilute). Keep in a warm, draft-free place as on top of a refrigerator.
- Check and observe dishes after about two days. Any discoloration, especially along swab pattern, represents bacterial growth.