ALL ARTICLES & RESOURCES
ALL ARTICLES & RESOURCES
Read articles about microbiology from Microbiologics’ experts and other field experts.
9 Gram Staining Best Practices
Gram staining is an important procedure all microbiologists should master. A laboratorian performs a Gram stain for many reasons - from screening the quality of a sputum sample to rapid presumptive diagnosis of an illness like bacterial meningitis. How to Perform a...
Clinical Case File Results: Persistent Dysuria
Photo Source: Lind, Lancet 1982 Last week we shared the Clinical Case File of a patient with persistent dysuria and asked our readers to determine the cause of the symptom. Here are the poll results: Adenovirus (4%, 7 Votes) Herpes simplex virus (9%, 21 Votes) Human...
Clinical Case File: Persistent Dysuria
Read the case study below and then use your microbiology expertise to determine which pathogen is causing the symptoms. The results will be shared on August 1, 2019. Good luck! Background: Determining which sexually transmitted infection (STI) is causing uncomfortable...
Tips for Choosing and Using Microorganisms for Education
In 2016, two biologists from Indiana University estimated that there are about a trillion species of bacteria on earth.1 With so many choices, how can a teacher select the best strains for her microbiology class? Below are a few tips for choosing and using...
Ask a CAP Inspector: How Frequently Should Molecular Targets Be Rotated?
Q: How frequently should I test targets for my molecular multiplex testing assays? A: This is a common question for inspectors, vendors, and laboratorians. Unfortunately, there are no cut-and-dried answers, but there are some best practices that you can apply in your...
Dear Stanley: Thermotolerant Strains for Fecal Coliform Testing
Dear Stanley, Do you know of any Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains that will grow at 44.5°C? I need thermotolerant controls for my fecal coliform test. Angie from Rochester, NY Dear Angie, Microbiologics has a document that can help you find the right...
8 Antimicrobial Effectiveness Test (AET) Best Practices
What do taking two children, a dog and a cat on a cross-country road trip and performing the Antimicrobial Effectiveness Test (AET) have in common? They both require heaps of planning and an abundance of patience. So, if the test is so challenging, why do it? The AET...
Dear Stanley: Investigating False Positive Results
Dear Stanley, Lately, our lab has been experiencing PCR results that don’t fit with what is expected. We will see occasional positive results in a negative sample. I think the issue could be related to contamination in the lab, but I’m not sure. Do you have any tips...
Microbiology’s Wild West: Cannabis Lab Leaders Talk Testing Methods and Regulations
Cannabis has become a widely accepted form of medicine for patients across the United States. These patients, many of whom are immunocompromised, rely on testing laboratories to ensure the safety of the products they use. The lack of consistent and clear regulations...
7 Streak Plate Method Best Practices
Microbiologists use the streak plate method every day to isolate colonies. Streaking may seem like Microbiology 101, but bad habits can lead to errors and contamination. Follow these best practices to get your streaking technique down to a science. 1. Label first,...
