The purpose of this exercise is to familiarize the students with the lab safety features and to refresh skills learned in introductory microbiology. They will be practicing aseptic transfer, quadrant streaks, and the Gram stain.
After reviewing the laboratory safety rules, students should receive a mixed culture of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Using that culture, they will practice Gram staining, aseptic transfer, and the quadrant streak. These three skills will be required for the skills test and will be used for nearly every experiment this semester.
On day two, the students will practice troubleshooting the most common problems with the light microscopes.
After completing this lab, students should be able to:
- Identify safety features and precautions used to avoid accidents
- Respond to accidents appropriately when they occur
- Gram stain and identify cell morphology and Gram reaction
- Aseptically transfer bacteria from one medium to another
- Isolate bacteria in mixed cultures using a quadrant streak
- Troubleshoot and fix the most common microscopy problems