Aseptic techniques underpin all work in microbiology. Make sure you are familiar with all these techniques before embarking on the other microbiology protocols on this website.
Only non-pathogenic cultures should be used in schools – obtained from a recognised educational supplier. Sterile equipment and media should be used in the transfer and culture of microorganisms. Aseptic technique should be observed whenever microorganisms are transferred from one container to another.
It is wise to treat all cultures as potentially pathogenic, because cultures may have been contaminated, and because mutations to disease-causing forms may occur. The aseptic techniques described here control the opportunities for contamination of cultures by microorganisms from the environment, or contamination of the environment by the microorganisms being handled.