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WATER MICROBIOLOGY
Read articles about water microbiology from Microbiologics’ experts and other field experts.
Back to Basics Best Practices for Plating Techniques used with Growth Promotion Testing
When performing Growth Promotion on new batches of media, one of three plating techniques can be used: Spread Plate, Pour Plate, or Membrane Filtration. Each method aids in enumeration of the cells in the inoculum, but each is different in technique. Below we offer...
Legionella Testing of Water Systems is Crucial as Schools Reopen
We’re in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic and now back-to-school time is upon us. For some that means resuming in-person learning, whether it be full or part-time. Parents, students and school staff are all feeling a mixture of emotions, from the excitement...
8 Aerobic Plate Count Best Practices
Several factors can influence the accuracy of aerobic plate counts used to estimate the number of microorganisms in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and household products. Below are a few best practices we recommend for achieving consistent and accurate counts. 1. ...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
Our Top Posts from 2018
Our team of writers kicked it up a notch in 2018 to create a steady stream of fun and informative posts for our readers. The best of the best from 2018 are listed below. We hope these posts help you grow as a microbiologist and bring a smile to your face. 1. Research...
Dear Stanley: Why We Recommend Testing in Parallel for Growth Promotion
Dear Stanley, When performing growth promotion with Microbiologics products, do you recommend testing in parallel with a previously approved media? The USP, EP, and JP don’t require testing in parallel. They only state “Test each batch of ready-prepared medium and...
