How to prep. for a Microbiology Lab Exam?

truern · Oct 11, 2005

Do you have any open labs when you could practice??

Other than that, I have no suggestions unless you'd consider "playing" like you're streaking a plate at home a suggestion

jbjints · Oct 11, 2005

Unfortunately because of other exams going on the same week, they have closed all labs. I honestly do not think there were ever any open labs.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Oct 11, 2005

I am having my Med Micro lab exam this Friday and I am nervous, very nervous. I don't feel comfortable yet in the Acid Fast Stain, Gram Stain nor Streaking th Plate.
My class is Fridays from 5:30 Pm to 11:20 PM, the Lab being the tail end of the evening. I don't think I have had enough time to prep because my teacher always ended class an hour early. At the time it was great but now I feel cheated that we weren't given the full lab time to prep for our exams.
Is there any way I could prepare for my lab exam? We will be allowed to use our lab books for our exam. I know for the streak plate we have to have at least 1 isolated colony, I hope I could manage at least 1. Any thoughts or recommendations?

What all is on the test? Isolating a colony is pretty easy.(you can even practice this out side of class to get the stokes down...) Maybe you should talk to your teacher and tell him/her that you need that time she/he is getting out early with. Maybe you could find out, not when there is another lab time, but when the class room will be empty, then go in and practice!

maliat · Oct 11, 2005

One thing our instructor taught us to do for streaking for isolation was write numbers on the other side of the plate. Go I, II, III around the plate. And for IV you draw a little box going into the middle of the plate. That way you have some guideline for where you are. Oh and make sure you do in the opposite order so it turns out in the right order when you have the plate with the agar up. Does that make sense?

Didn't do this yesterday and regreted it afterwards. Crossing my fingers and hope it turns out. It looked like I didn't do the main thing that she emphasizes, do not cross into the other areas other than in the begining for picking up.

Malia

BoonersmomRN · Oct 11, 2005

You may want to look here to get an idea of the way things look. This is my professors online lab site and it's huge. Loads of pictures, loads of information. Hope it helps

http://student.ccbcmd.edu/courses/bio141/labmanua/toc.html

truern · Oct 11, 2005

jbjints, I loved this website when I was taking Micro...

http://www.kcom.edu/faculty/chamberlain/

Make sure to check out the Infectious Diseases Lab Notebook on the left of the homepage

Fun2, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2005

OK, I have just thought up the strangest idea.

Make some jello. See if there is a way to borrow/make a loop to try to streak the jellow with.

If you could find something similar to the dishes you use, then this would be awesome! :chuckle

Now, what to grow, and how to make it not melt..... don't ask....I haven't thought that far ahead! LOL

If you're just needing practice making streak plates, this just may work! :)

As for the stains....make a list of directions, repeat over and over and over! :)

jbjints · Oct 12, 2005

Thank you very much for the help. My test is open book, my teacher is allowing us to use our lab book. I am just going to have to concentrate and give it my best. Wish me luck and thanks again for the ideas and websites.