Aseptic Technique: Culture your sample without contamination

This simulation, along with “Fermentation: Optimize bio-ethanol production,” was adapted from learning objectives in the original  “Fermentation” simulation. For more information on this topic, see Labster’s Microbiology simulations.

A patient sample has arrived in the microbiology lab. Will you be able to culture it using good aseptic technique? Learn about aseptic technique and what you should pay attention to when preparing a sterile work area, sterilizing equipment and reagents, and decontaminating the work area after you finish your experiment.

Preparing a sterile field

You will start off by preparing the sterile work area. Use your own microbiology knowledge, the tooltips, and theory pages to ensure you are using good aseptic technique. Don’t worry if you make a mistake and your work area is not quite sterile. In the virtual lab, Dr. One can guide you to repeat some steps without losing several hours like you would in the physical lab.

Culturing and cleaning up

Next, you will culture your sample and the appropriate control using sterile equipment and reagents. Once you have placed your samples in the incubator: it’s clean up time! Dr. One will again guide you if you accidentally contaminated one of the samples or accidentally set the lab on fire.

Analyzing your results

After the incubation, check your samples to see if you have used correct aseptic technique throughout the experiment. Will you be able to create a pure culture that the microbiologist can use to identify an unknown microbe?

RELATED SIMULATIONS

• Fermentation: Optimize bio-ethanol production
• Fermentation