Understanding Serum: Essential Knowledge for Cell Culture
News 19 3 月, 2025
Serum has been an essential component of culture media since the 1950s, providing key nutrients for cell growth. Despite decades of research, its complex composition is still not fully understood. The quality and composition of serum can vary based on animal age, sex, and physiological conditions. Types of Serum Serum is classified into several types…
Columbia Agar: A Vital Tool in Scientific Research
News 12 3 月, 2025
Introduction Columbia Agar is a versatile culture medium widely used in microbiology, clinical diagnostics, and biological research. With its rich nutrient composition, it supports the growth and identification of various microorganisms, making it an essential tool in laboratories worldwide. What is Columbia Agar? Developed in the 1940s at Columbi…
Baird-Parker Agar: A Key Tool in Staphylococcus Detection
News 12 3 月, 2025
Introduction Baird-Parker Agar is a highly selective culture medium used for isolating and identifying Staphylococcus aureus in food safety testing and clinical diagnostics. Its unique formulation allows efficient detection of this pathogenic bacterium, ensuring public health protection. Composition & Working Principle Baird-Parker Agar contai…
Blank Test: Purpose, Procedure, and Key Considerations
News 3 3 月, 2025
1. What is a Blank Test? A blank test is performed without adding the test sample, using only the solvent or diluent in the same volume, under identical experimental conditions. It helps assess systematic errors and background interference that may affect results. 2. Purpose of a Blank Test Evaluate Systematic Errors: Identifies errors from reage…
How to Identify Contaminants in Microbial Cultures
News 3 3 月, 2025
1. Observing Growth Characteristics Color Changes: Unusual color shifts in the culture medium (e.g., red to yellow or cloudy appearance) may indicate contamination. Colony Morphology: Unexpected colonies differing in shape, color, or size from the intended microorganisms suggest contamination. 2. Microscopic Examination Gram Staining: A stai…
How to Pour Culture Media: Steps and Best Practices
News 3 3 月, 2025
1. Temperature Adjustment The ideal pouring temperature for culture media is around 45°C-50°C. A simple way to estimate this is by touching the bottle with both your palm and the back of your hand—if the palm doesn’t feel hot but the back of the hand does, the temperature is likely around 50°C. If the temperature is too high, condensation will form on t…
Difference Between Nutrient Agar (NA) and Plate Count Agar (PCA)
News 26 11 月, 2024
Introduction For those familiar with microbiological testing, colony count testing varies across industries, including food, air, water, and food contact surfaces. While some standards require Plate Count Agar (PCA), others call for Nutrient Agar (NA). So, what’s the difference between these two culture media? Formulations and Key Differences …
Listeria monocytogenes: The Hidden Threat in Low-Moisture Foods
News 26 11 月, 2024
Introduction As awareness of food safety increases, the food industry is actively seeking methods to control foodborne pathogens. A recent review published in Trends in Food Science & Technology highlights the survival characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes in low-moisture foods and how this impacts the effectiveness of thermal processing in food…
Tips for Mastering the Pour Plate Technique
News 26 11 月, 2024
Introduction The pour plate technique is a crucial step in biological experiments, widely used in bacterial culture, molecular biology, environmental monitoring, water quality analysis, and microbiological testing. Accurate and efficient plate pouring is the foundation for experimental success. Beginners often encounter challenges, so here are some prac…
Causes and Solutions for Elevated Blank Test Values
News 26 11 月, 2024
Introduction Blank test values play a crucial role in quality control during sample analysis. These values reflect the combined impact of noise from testing instruments, impurities in reagents, contamination during handling, and environmental factors on sample measurements. Understanding the causes of elevated blank test values is essential for ensuring…
Viable Norovirus Persistence in Aquatic Microenvironments: Insights and Findings
News 26 11 月, 2024
Introduction Human norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Despite its significant public health impact, human norovirus remains challenging to cultivate in laboratory conditions. Consequently, environmental fate studies of norovirus rely on molecular methods or culturable surrogate viruses. However, these methods often overes…