Streak Plate

Cultivation
Technique
Learning Activity No, 3B
INTRODUCTION
Bacteria are microscopic organisms, when
mass multiplication occurs bacteria can be
seen macroscopically in colonies.
Cultivation is the process of growing
microorganisms in culture
Subculturing is the transfer from one medium
to another
Bacteria are either fastidious or nonfastidious.
Classifications of Media
Four general categories:
Enrichment
Contains specific nutrients required for growth of
particular bacterial pathogens
Supportive
Contains nutrients that support growth of most
nonfastidious organisms
Selective
Has inhibitory agents to all organisms except that being
sought
Differential
Employ some factor/s that allow colonies of one
bacterial species or type to exhibit certain
characteristics.
Examples
Enrichment
Buffered Charcoal-Yeast Extract Agar for growth
Legionella pneumophila
Supportive
Nutrient agar
Selective
Phenylethyl alcohol agar w/c inhibits growth of aerobic
and facultative anaerobic gram-negative rods
Differential
MacConkey agar w/c differentiates between gram-
negative bacteria that can and cant ferments the
sugar lactose.

Streak Plate Technique
Sample from original suspension or from starter
plate is streaked on agar with a wire loop.
Purpose:
Determine quantity of bacterial growth semi-
quantitatively or relatively.
Most common technique to isolate pure
cultures
If used with calibrated loop- can be used to
quantify CFU (colony forming units) in fluid
specimens.
Streak Plate Technique
After Cultivation
Invert all the plates and incubate for 24-48
hours at the appropriate temperature,
After incubation, refrigerate the plates in
inverted position to preserve bacterial
growth.
Examine the plates for well-isolated and
separated colonies.
Colony Description
Size may be determined by measuring
the colony diameter in mm
Hemolytic pattern alpha, beta, or
gamma
Consistency smooth, rough, or mucoid
On MAC or EMB Lactose or Nonlactose
fermenting
Important Reminders
Make sure all needed materials, cultures
and media are ready.
Be sure to label everything correctly,
Wear PPE and be sure to follow
appropriate precautions.
Sterilize always
Avoid spillage
According to Sir Liwag: Accidents are just
better names for katangahan.