Launching the dreaded "Unknown" project in Micro tomorrow

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I woke up at 4:30 this morning...I am a nervous wreck because we start the dreaded Unknown project tomorrow. We will be issued broth in a test tube which contains one or two( with my luck I'll get 3) "bugs". We need to streak two plates and incubate these at two different temps. We need to immediately perform an Acic-fast, and 2 Gram stains, if time permitts perform another kind of stain of our choice.

I have struggled in this lab because of terrible, uncooperative lab partners and also because we don't ever have enough time. If I am allowed to pace myself and take my time and nobody messes with me I might just do ok.

I am stressing right now. has anyone else started on their Unknown project and if how is it going for you all?

This class is a monster. Even though I have an excellent test average, this practical hands on stuff is just really kicking my butt.

I am scared to death that I won't be able to correctly identify my bugs :chair:

I hope you did well on your test! I'm sorry that you're having trouble with lab partners. It's never good when there's too much estrogen in the room. You're not there to make friends...sometimes you gotta be the b$#@ with the bigger bark. It wouldn't hurt to talk to your teacher in private, ya know tell her how much this class means to you blah blah blah. You may even find she's not so bad and gain a little insight on her testing methods. I don't call it brown nosing, I call it building a positive relationship with your instructor. Remember, ain't nobody else gonna be paying your mortgage, your car payment, your student loans.

Now that I'm done swinging my chicken head around...

I came to really love micro. Yeah, I cried when I got my first unknown wrong but after I learned to have confidence in what I was doing and not absorb the panic in the lab I excelled.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Stay calm, you can do it!!!

(Besides, we don't want you shaking and getting those bugs all over yourself.) :eek:

I actually loved the Unknown project. Don't think of it as a bad thing, but a competition....a game that you can win!!!!!

Good luck, have fun!!!!

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Stay calm, you can do it!!!

(Besides, we don't want you shaking and getting those bugs all over yourself.) :eek:

I actually loved the Unknown project. Don't think of it as a bad thing, but a competition....a game that you can win!!!!!

Good luck, have fun!!!!

I better win "The Great Microbial War of 2006" if I want an A in this class :chuckle

I am sure some of that mystery cocktail hitched a ride home with me today and is getting quite comfortable. It may even love the pets :clown:

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Specializes in Operating Room.
I better win "The Great Microbial War of 2006" if I want an A in this class :chuckle

I am sure some of that mystery cocktail hitched a ride home with me today and is getting quite comfortable. It may even love the pets :clown:

lol.....Well, make sure you treat that lil' critter kindly. :chuckle

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lol.....Well, make sure you treat that lil' critter kindly. :chuckle

It's two, one mystery streptobacillus and one acid fast whatever ( I suspect mycobacterium phlei) :barf01:

Gosh, I missed your humor, it's so good to see you:chuckle

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StPauli, can you help me out, you micro whiz??

What the heck is all this Differential vs Selective, inhibitors, etc? We're having a lab quiz Tues and I haven't the slighest clue. Any tips?

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Specializes in Operating Room.
StPauli, can you help me out, you micro whiz??

What the heck is all this Differential vs Selective, inhibitors, etc? We're having a lab quiz Tues and I haven't the slighest clue. Any tips?

It doesn't tell you that in your book or lab book?

If I remember correctly, selective only allows a certain microbe to grow. Differential allows you to differentiate between various microbes by the way they colonize (color, mound shape, etc.)

Maybe StPauligirl can clear this up. :)

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StPauli, can you help me out, you micro whiz??

What the heck is all this Differential vs Selective, inhibitors, etc? We're having a lab quiz Tues and I haven't the slighest clue. Any tips?

I had trouble posting this is a test

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StPauli, can you help me out, you micro whiz??

What the heck is all this Differential vs Selective, inhibitors, etc? We're having a lab quiz Tues and I haven't the slighest clue. Any tips?

Selective and Differential Media:

By inhibiting unwanted organisms with salts, dyes, or other chemicals, selective media allow growth of only the desired microbes.

Differential media are used to distinguish among different organisms.

I hope this helps. Good luck

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We were assigned ours tonight. I have a Gram + bacillus. We have a nice flow chart to follow which helps.

So far it tests positive for catalase. I've done a streak plate on Mannitol Sugar Agar and awaiting the findings before going on to the next step.

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU.

i remember the stress i had when doing my unknown bacteria, too! the most important thing is to have an accurate dichotomous key. my teacher took off points for unnecessary tests performed and, as long as you go with the flow of your dichotomous key, the rest will fall into place! looking back at it now (a semester later) i think it was pretty easy. it was the confidence in myself that was the stumbling block! i wish you the best! :smiletea2:

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