How screwed am I?

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On Tuesday we began a three day lab unknown. One of the things we did was a streak plate. The problem is I blanked and didn't flame my loop in between streaking the 3 different areas.. Am I not going to able to get isolated colonies tonight when I go to lab? Or do you think I might be okay?

To clarify I dipped my loop into the broth once and streaked 3 areas with that. Wasn't I supposed to dip and flame in between each streaking?

Gah.. i'm not even sure I'm using the correct terminology.

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Did you only have one broth? I do think you were supposed to flame the loop inbetween...but hey what can you do, right? It'll be okay..

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Team, if I understand you correctly I think you are okay.

I took micro last two summers ago, and when we did agar plates, we did then as follows:

1. Flame the loop, pause to cool, then dip into broth and streak approx one-third of the plate.

2. Then streak from the area in step #1, into a second, one-third of the plate. In effect you are pulling microbes from the first area into the second.

3. Then streak from area #2, into the last one-third of the plate. Pulling from the less densely saturated area of step #2, into the final unstreaked area (#3) of the plate.

This allows you to "thin out" the microbes pulled from the broth, so that in area #3 the microbes are few and far between. Allowing you to easily isolate them for further testing.

You are defintitely not supposed to dip in between streaks on the same plate. And I saw people who flamed and others who didn't flame between streaks (on the same plate), and they were still able to isolate their unknown.

I think you are going to be okay :)

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I agree. It sounds like you did what you were supposed to. As long as you are only isolating one type of organism and didn't re-dip your loop (which would cause overgrowth) you are good to go.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

I'm a nurse and I have no idea what you are talking about. I don't remember learning this.

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I'm a nurse and I have no idea what you are talking about. I don't remember learning this.

This is likely a project in Microbiology to determine an unknown microorganism. Micro is a co-req science course for some programs, mine included.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
This is likely a project in Microbiology to determine an unknown microorganism. Micro is a co-req science course for some programs, mine included.

Yes, I know, I got an 'A' in Micro. I still have no idea of what you speak. It's unneccessary info for nursing, so I must have disposed of it.

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i forgot to flame all the time .. worked out fine ....even when i did it right things didnt go right dont woory about it though still got an A

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