Agar Plates

[mikah]

I made agar plates with a student using the recipe on science assist

agar, beef stock and peptone

there was no mention of the NaCl in the recipe above


are these going to work? I'd hate her project to not have any results

thank you for any help

[Merilyn1]

I've always added NaCl myself, however, I wouldn't doubt the information on Scienceassist so you should be right. Commercial stock is pretty salty.
Could you inoculate and incubate one over the weekend as a test?

[Ines]

This is a recipe that I got from one of the SWS Network meetings, it works all the time.
500 mL water
10 g Agar (I use 'Labchem' Agar, powder, from Ajax, one bottle of 500g lasts me a long time).
1.5 g Beef stock cube/ powder (I use Bonox, conc. beef stock, about a third of a teaspoon)
2.5g peptone
Makes approximately 15 plates,
I hope this helps,
Ines

[macca]

Question for the brains trust.

I have an Extension science student using the following agar, Murashige and Skoog Shoot Multiplication Medium A. used for plant tissue culture. However it is also growing other bacteria and mould. My BRAIN "DO NOT OPEN" plates. Teacher saying she needs to open to place on slide under microscope.

What happen in the DET schools when Contaminated plates are opened by mistake or on purpose.

Thanks in advance.

[mikah]

thank you both for the reply
Merilyn1 I did exactly that but I took it home because I wouldn't be in for a few days now I cant remember the nice warm spot I put it in ohmy
Thank you Ines thats pretty much what she used so fingers crossed.

[Labbie]

I’m with you. Generally year 12s can open their agar plates of they know what they’re culturing and there aren’t any unknowns. But since there unknowns on that plate I’d also be advising against it!! Can’t they look at them through the plates?

[Merilyn1]

thank you both for the reply
Merilyn1 I did exactly that but I took it home because I wouldn't be in for a few days now I cant remember the nice warm spot I put it in ohmy
Thank you Ines thats pretty much what she used so fingers crossed.

Oops!

[Marama T]

My personal opinion is never, ever open the plates. You cannot be sure what is growing in there. You could be exposing yourself to millions of particles of a pathogen, with terrible and possibly life-changing consequences.

[Techie]

If you are looking for Agar / microbiology supplies try Amyl media.

I have been using their products for over 20 years.

Agar is much cheaper than other suppliers.

Amyl Media Pty Ltd

39 Healey Rd,
Dandenong Vic 3175
PO Box 4129,
Dandenong South, Vic 3164
Australia