Inoculation loop

Abstract: The study was taken up to assess the chances of alcohol and instrument mediated horizontal transmission of bacterial spores and to fix the sterilization needs of tools recurrently used in bacteriological or plant tissue culture work in the backdrop of encountering mixtures in purified microbial cultures and the re-emergence of contaminants in ‘bacteria-sanitized’ plant tissue cultures. The microbial inoculating needle after contaminating the loop portion with Bacillus subtilis or B. pumilus spores was flamed over a sprit-lamp or gas-burner directly for 10–40 s, or after dipping the instrument (10–12 cm) in spore-adulterated 90 % ethanol or rectified spirit (96 %). The loop and rod portions were monitored for any residual inoculum by bringing the loop region in contact with nutrient agar, or swabbing the rod portion with moistened cotton-bud and imprinting on agar medium. Direct flaming of loop region for ≥20 s eliminated the hardy spores therein, whereas alcohol-dip and flaming increased the chances of spore survival on the rod portion that were acquired from the contaminated alcohol. Similar results were observed with the set of forceps used in tissue culturing work after dip in spore-containing ethanol. Alcohol once got adulterated with the hardy spores served as a source of bacterial inoculum causing unsuspected lateral spread of contamination. Direct flaming of inoculating loop nichrome or the forceps-tips, which came in contact with the microbial inoculum, preferably over a gas flame proved satisfactory for instrument sterilization. Alternatively, the use of autoclaved micropipette tips for handling bacterial cultures in the petri-dishes or attaching the tips to a pair of sterilized forceps is suggested for handling the cultures in tubes. Exposing the forceps and scalpel in a glass bead sterilizer set at 260 °C for ≥5 min effectively sterilized the tissue culturing tools.

Abstract: A machine is described which automatically inoculates a plastic tray containing agar media with a culture by use of either a conventional inoculating loop or a cotton swab. Isolated colonies were obtained with an inoculating loop when a heavy inoculum (10 cells/ml) was used or with a cotton swab when a light inoculum (ca. 10 cells/ml) was used. Trays containing combinations of differential or selective media were used to (i) separate mixtures of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, (ii) facilitate isolation of organisms from clinical specimens, and (iii) compare colony growth characteristics of pure cultures. The design of the machine is simple, it is easy to use, and it relieves the operator from the manual task of streaking cultures.

Abstract: The invention discloses an inoculation loop rod with self-disinfection function The inoculation loop rod includes an inoculation rod, the inoculation rod is internally equipped with a storage battery chamber and a heating wire chamber, the heating wire chamber is internally provided with a heating wire ring, two ends of the heating wire ring extend to the outside of the heating wire chamber bottom, both ends of the heating wire ring are connected to an inoculation loop, the storage battery chamber is internally equipped with a storage battery, and two ends of the heating wire ring are respectively connected to the positive electrode and negative electrode of the storage battery The inoculating loop disclosed by the invention can be cooled under ultraviolet lamp irradiation after high temperature disinfection, asepsis and an appropriate temperature can be ensured to the inoculating loop, death of strains from scald due to high temperature of the inoculating loop can be avoided, and the success rate of inoculation is increased

Abstract: The utility model relates to a single inoculating loop for an inoculating pen, which comprises a handle (1) with an electric heating device. A socket (3) arranged at the front end of the handle (1) is connected with an inoculating loop (4) in a matched manner, and the inoculating loop mainly comprises a loop rod (4a) and a loop (4b). The single inoculating loop is characterized in that two connections of the loop rod (4a) with the loop (4b) form a cross structure and are mutually separated at a cross point. The single inoculating loop has the advantages that the two connections of the loop rod with the loop are crossed to form a complete ring, bacterium liquid can be reserved on the loop, and success rate of inoculation can be increased.