Flame sterilization, heat transfer

Inoculation Inoculation is the seeding of a culture vessel with the microbial material (inoculum). The inoculum is introduced with a metal wire or loop which is rapidly sterilized just before its use by heating it in a flame. Transfers of liquid culture are often made by using a sterilized pipette. The inoculation is usually done in a laminar flow hood to minimize the risk of contamination. It is important to know proper pipetting techniques for inoculating or sampling during cultivation. 

The ability to transfer microorganisms from one container to another without contamination is crucial to success in the microbiology laboratory. These techniques serve as the basis for subsequent work such as starter culture preparation or maintaining viable cultures in long-term storage. Transfer loops are normally used to transfer to the surface of agar (Petri plates and slants), whereas transfer needles are used to prepare stab cultures. Both implements are sterilized by heating in an open flame until red hot (Fig. 13.1). 

Figure 13.1. Sterilizing transfer loop by heating in an open flame until red hot. Photograph provided with the kind permission of WineBugs LLC.

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