Mell When would you use an inoculation loop?
A tool usually made of platinum or nichrome wire in which the tip forms a small loop with a diameter of about 5 mm, and is used to smear, streak, or take an inoculum from, a culture of microorganisms.
How do you use an inoculation loop to transfer bacteria?
Heat the inoculating loop in the Bunsen burner until it is red hot. Heat several inches of the loop, since that much of it will contact the inside of the tubes. Allow the loop to cool for a few seconds while you hold it in your hand. Do not put it down or allow the loop to touch any surface after it is sterile.
Why use an inoculating needle vs inoculating loop?
Loops are used to transfer from liquid media to liquid media or petri plates. Needles are used to transfer from solid media to other solid media or petri plates. An inoculation needle is used for retrieving solid or dense media. An inoculation loop is used to retrieve liquid media.
What can I use instead of an inoculating loop?
Wooden craft sticks and coffee stirrers are good disposable alternatives to inoculating loops. Put them into envelopes and sterilize them in an autoclave or an oven. Wooden toothpicks work pretty well, although their shorter length makes them a little more challenging to work with.
How do you Sterilise an inoculating loop?
The inoculating loop is sterilised by passing it at an angle through the flame of a gas burner until the entire length of the wire becomes orange from the heat. In this way all contaminants on the wire are incinerated. Never lay the loop down once it is sterilised, or it may again become contaminated.
What are two ways to sterilize a bacterial loop?
What is the most important part of using a metal loop in transferring bacteria?
An inoculation loop is a thin metal device with a handle at one end and a looped wire at the other end. The looped end is useful for obtaining bacterial samples from colonies growing on media plates or from liquid media, as the loop can hold a drop of liquid, somewhat like a bubble wand holds liquid soap.
How do you Sterilise and inoculating loop?
Why is it important to sterilize the inoculating loop?
Flame-sterilize the inoculating loop in order to prevent contamination of the bench surface and as a consideration to others in the lab who may later use the inoculating loops.
Why do you sterilize the inoculating loop?
How long do you hold the loop in the incinerator to sterilize it?
Place your loop in the mouth of the incinerator briefly for 2-4 seconds to sterilize it. Do not leave your loop in the incinerator for more than 10 seconds, you will destroy the loop!
What is the definition of an inoculating loop?
To precisely define a Inoculating Loop is a piece of stainless steel, nicrome or platinum with a cable mounted on a handle. The cable could be of any size. The Inoculating Loop, also known as an inoculation rod or microjet, is a simple tool used mainly by microbiologists to recover a inoculum from a culture of microorganisms.
How big is the loop of the inoculum?
The wire forms a small loop with a diameter of about 5 mm. The loop of wire at the tip may be made of platinum, tungsten or nichrome, the latter being inferior but less expensive. This loop removes a consistent amount of the liquid suspended inoculum by using the phenomenon of surface tension.
Why are disposable inoculating loops used in microbiology?
Disposable inoculating loops and needles do not need flaming and thus eliminate the risk of infection due to the aerosol formation of pathogenic substances. Cross-contamination due to improper sterilization is eliminated.
How do you sterilize a wire inoculating loop?
Sterilize your wire inoculating loop by passing it at an angle through the flame of a Bunsen burner until the entire length of the wire becomes glowing red/orange from the heat. Important: Never lay the loop down once it is sterilized or it may become re-contaminated.