Blood Agar Mouth Swabs

Research Paper # 117002

Biology
Chemistry > Biochemistry

An analysis of a blood agar mouth swab laboratory experiment.

1,078 words () | 4 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper describes a blood agar mouth swab lab experiment whose purpose is to show that Streptococcus sp. is present in all mouths. The experiment uses sheep blood agar and swabs taken from volunteers which are left in a petri dish overnight. The paper also includes tables and diagrams.

Outline:
Objective
Materials and Methods
Results
Interpretation

From the Paper:

"The agar used was Sheep Blood Agar. According to Colome, et. al., 1986, Blood Agar includes 1 liter of sterile, molten blood agar base medium which has been cooled to 50 to 55 degrees C., and 5% (v/v) of sterile, defibrinated sheep blood which was added aseptically. Further, "[a]ny of several complex infusion agar media may be suitable for use as a blood agar base, including heart infusion agar, Columbia blood agar base, neopeptone infusion agar, tryptic soy agar, etc." all of which should be rich in nutrients and have a final pH of 7.2 to 7.4. This particular medium lacks carbohydrates like dextrose which are fermentable. The sheep blood is used in this particular agar because hemolysis will be able to be proven by a change in the blood or color of the agar. In particular, Streptococcus will lyse the blood in the agar. Alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus will turn it a green and beta-hemolytic Streptococcus completely lyses the sheep blood turning it from red to clear. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Bauman, Robert W. (2009). Microbiology (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Colome, Jaime S., et. al. (1986). Laboratory Exercises in Microbiology. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company.
Hurlbert, Dr. R. E. (1999). Retrieved March 18, 2009 from http://www.slic2.wsu.edu:82/hurlbert/micro101/pages/101lab18.html
Patterson, M. J. (1996). Streptococcus. Retrieved March 18, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus