Frequently Asked Questions

	I have tried and tried but I just can't get a test to work. The software keeps telling me that my loop is not sterile or that I have not inoculated the medium.

	The software expects certain specific events to happen in order for the aseptic transfer to take place. We programmed the software to require students to do all those things expected in the micro lab - you must flame your loop before and after use, you must flame the mouths of your tube(s) before and after obtaining an inoculum, you must enter through the mouth of the tube and exit the same way to pick up and deposit an inoculum. The tube is defined by three pairs of points in the walls of the tubes. Should the tip of the loop/wire/swab not pass between these pairs of points, you have not faithfully recreated the lab action in the software. The result can be such problems as you mention. Also, just as in the micro lab, you cannot leave your tubes/plates open indefinitely without contamination. We give you two minutes (a very generous amount of time) from removing caps to replacing them before contamination occurs. In other words, shortcuts and inattentive work penalize you in the software just as they do in the lab. We point these things out and demonstrate proper ways to do the work in our interactive tutorial (free download from this website). You may also download a specific example of how to perform the Lactose Fermentation Test here.

Site Modified: Friday, March 26, 2004