I have been doing double agar layer analysis for MS2 bacteriophages. I see those streaks appearing occasionally in my plates and they affect the count! The effect is not in the magnitude of "log" but still, would like to avoid this. Does anyone know why these could occur? And how to avoid them?
I think those streaks are made from water collecting on the surface of the plates. It could be that your plates are too fresh and wet when you use them and you are getting too much condensation on the surface of the agar when you put them in the incubator. Sometimes it helps to just dry the plate an additional day or two before using. It also helps to be sure you incubate your plates inverted, so any condensation on the lids does not drip on the agar.
@karen sometimes yes and sometimes no
@MICHAEL ..thanks for your reply. I always invert them. The plates I used we not too fresh, they were almost a month old! I will try drying them to see if it would help.
If they were a month old then this may not have been the problem. But look at the plates for water on the surface an hour or so after you put them in the incubator, just to check.
Hi @siman
Yes I did figure it out. It was water condensation. To solve it: after you pour the top agar , leave the top lid open for a few minutes so it doesn't condensate water. If you leave the lid open for even half an hour, it will be fine.
I usually leave lid open in the laminar flow cabinet for a while.then invert the plates & incubate them.
Give it a try and hopefully it helps with your issue :)
you do not swirl plates prperly, and the phage lysate is not distributed equally on the plate. These streaks are also due to the bacteriophages. swirl your plates properly and thoroughly.
Probably its water frim co densation.it will hapend whenthe plates move from very cool environment to the hot incubator environment. To avoid this juwt let plates to dry a few minutes inaide the incubatoe with open lid. If you iverdry plaques will be smaller.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Indexes