How to make prepared agar media



Pre-experiment: Keep sterile Petri dishes closed until ready to pour agar into them. Air-borne contaminants can easily invade an open Petri dish.

Although pre-poured agar plates are available, one can make agar plates from tablet, powdered, or bottled agar by following a few simple instructions. Agar kits usually come with detailed instructions on how to prepare plates, and below are sample procedures for reference. When in doubt, be sure to clearly read the instructions and ask for help if needed (either consult a teacher or call the technical help line of the agar kit supplier).

Preparing Tablet or Powdered Agar:
For example : The formulation for LB (Luria Bertani) agar is: 9.1 g/L tryptone, 4.6 g/L yeast extract, 4.6 g/L NaCl, and 13.7 g/L agar. If using tablets, dissolve 10 tablets per 500 ml of water. For agar powders, dissolve by microwaving, 6.9 g of agar in 500 ml of water. 500 ml of agar will pour ~ 25 large Petri dishes (100 mm diameter) or 50 small Petri dishes (60 mm diameter).

Preparing Bottled Agar:
Loosen the bottle cap, but do not remove the cap while heating.
Warm the agar bottle in a hot water bath or in the microwave until it becomes liquid.
After opening the cap, pass the neck of the agar bottle through a flame to sterilize it. Do not lose the cap!
While pouring the agar, open the Petri dish lid as little as possible, hold it at an angle, and make sure the lid is kept directly over the Petri dish.
Pour enough melted agar into each sterile plastic Petri dish to cover 1/8" of the bottom. Cover the lid of the Petri dish immediately.
Place agar plates on a counter top to cool and set. Agar medium will set like stiff gelatin at room temperature.
Pass the neck of the agar bottle through flame again before applying the cap.
Preparing Pre-Poured Plates: If plates have been refrigerated, set them out and allow them to warm to room temperature.

Storage: Stack agar plates upside down in the refrigerator. Do Not Freeze! The purpose of placing the plates upside down is to prevent condensation from dripping down onto the agar surface which could then facilitate movement of organisms between colonies.
Please see http://www.umsl.edu/~microbes/pdf/tipsforplates.pdf for additional tips.

Additional Safety Considerations
When stirring the broth solution, one should take special note in beginning the stir scale at a low setting and adding more speed from there.
When heating the broth, make sure to cover the flask in such a manner that will not lend itself to boiling over, but to avoid spillage.
When pouring the broth, make sure to fill the Petri dish without burning oneself. In addition it is important in this process to make sure that the Petri dish is covered immediately to allow the substance to cool proportionately.
Once the Petri dishes have been exposed or inoculated, students should not re-open them.

Piccolo Xpress


Piccolo® xpress

Ini adalah mesin pemeriksaan kimia andalan saya waktu masih bekerja di sebuah lembaga Ámerika serikat di Jakarta. Mesin ini mudah digunakan dan cocok untuk digunakan di lab kecil, sayang reagen disk tidak tersedia di Jakarta dan lumayan mahal beli disknya dari USA, 1 disk kira-kira 100.000 rupiah untuk 4-13 panel test.

Pernah suatu saat reagen disk lewat tanggal expired date nya dan ternyata tidak bisa digunakan karena mesin menolak reagen disk yang sudah expired. karena mahalnya disk sementara persediaan masih banyak akhirnya saya coba akali dengan merubah settingan tanggal di mesin Piccolo ini menjadi lebih mundur - ilustrasinya misalnya sekarang tanggal 11 nov 2010, reagen disk expired tanggal 10 nov 2010, maka di mesin saya setting tanggalnya jadi 09 nov 2010 - ternyata berhasil... !
mesin mengira reagen disk masih belum expired dan memberikan hasil test sperti biasa.
saya lakukan test kontrol dengan reagen kontrol juga oke-oke saja hasilnya..
paling tidak cara ini membuat saya bisa punya cadangan disk sampai pesanan disk yang baru datang dari amerika yang kadang membutuhkan waktu lama diterimanya..

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On-The-Spot Chemistry Results in minutes
The Piccolo xpress is a compact, portable clinical chemistry system designed for on-site patient testing. Roughly the size of a shoebox, health care providers use the easy to follow color touch screen commands to perform routine multi-chemistry panels. 0.1cc of whole blood, serum or plasma is added directly to the patented 8-cm diameter single use plastic disc containing the liquid diluent and dry reagents. The disc is placed in the analyzer drawer where centrifugal and capillary forces are used to mix the reagents and sample in the disc. The Piccolo xpress monitors the reagent reactions simultaneously using nine wavelengths, calculates the results from the absorbance data and reports the results. The Piccolo xpress self-calibrates with each run and the on-board continuous intelligent Quality Control (iQC™) monitors the analyzer, reagent reactions and sample to ensure chemistry and instrument integrity. This assures you the highest quality and accuracy in results. Results are ready in approximately 12 minutes with a "hard copy" report suitable for the patient file or transferred to a computer, printer or an LIS/EMR. This enables you to rapidly obtain critical diagnostic information at point of care. The easy-to-use, maintenance-free system requires no special training to operate.
Piccolo® xpress Features & Benefits

On the spot lab results

The Piccolo xpress delivers routine multi-chemistry and electrolyte test results quickly and easily in virtually any treatment setting,
A fully automated system with walk away operation
Uses a small sample size (0.1cc of whole blood, serum or plasma)
No sample pre-treatment is needed
Results are available in approximately 12 minutes.
The built in intelligent Quality Control meets CLIA and NCCLS requirements for daily control testing
The Piccolo xpress delivers up to 24 individual tests including CLIA-waived lipids, liver enzymes and glucose monitoring
Results are provided in a “hard copy” self-adhesive report or can be quickly transferred to a printer,computer or data management system, enabling physicians to rapidly obtain critical diagnostic information at the point-of-care
Small on Space. Big on Accuracy.
Compact and portable, the Piccolo xpress™ is easy to incorporate into your clinical setting, yet providesthe precision and accuracy comparable to larger, more expensive laboratory analyzers.
Small footprint measures 32.4 cm (12.75 in.) x 15.2 cm (6 in.) x 20.3 cm (8 in.)
Portable and lightweight with carrying handle only weighs 11.2 pounds
The advanced technology uses centrifugal and capillary forces to mix diluent, reagents and sample in a self-contained, disposable disc lessening opportunities for procedural errors
On-board intelligent Quality Control system performs continuous QC checks during the complete analytical process to ensure accurate results
Bar coded self-contained reagent discs are self-calibrating and monitors panel information
Multi-analyte panel results include alpha-numeric patient information, analyte concentrations, reference ranges, sample integrity indices and QC performance
Operator security capabilities limit non-user entry
Peer reviewed studies support performance
Bidirectional communication USB ports transmit data to external peripherals.
Stores up to 5000 patient and control results on-board
Easy Operation

The Piccolo xpress procedure is quick and easy to perform.
No special operating skills are needed to run the Piccolo xpress
Easy to use color touch screen guides the operator through the process
Flexible alpha–numeric data entry options and analyzer settings
Self-contained, disposable reagent discs are easy to handle
Every reagent disc automatically self-calibrates
Integrated intelligent Quality Control (iQC) checks performance and accuracy
Requires very little maintenance
Abaxis provides on-going service and support
Operates from line or 15-volt battery power
Direct compatibility supported with USB peripherals including bar code readers, keyboards, personal computers and printers.
CD Software makes testing upgrades easy
Piccolo Panels
Piccolo panels are configured to aid in disease diagnosis or monitor disease treatment. Each panel is a self-contained plastic disc with reagents. Intelligent Quality Control and bar coded calibration are built in to each reagent disc.

Piccolo Specifications

Analyzer Dimensions Height 24.2 cm (9.5 in)
Width 15.3 cm (6 in)
Depth 29.2 cm (11.5 in)
Weight Analyzer 6.9 kg (15 lbs)
Power Adaptor 0.6 kg (1.3 lbs)
Mode of Operation Continuous
Protection Against Ingress of Fluids Ordinary Equipment (IPXO)
Ambient operating temp. 15-32°C (59-90°F)
Humidity 0-95%, noncondensing
Reaction temp. 37°C (98.6°F)
Power requirements 100-240 volts AC, 50-60 Hz; or 12-15 volts DC
Thermal Protection Rating 70°C (158°F)

Piccolo® xpress Operation

Piccolo xpress represents a technological breakthrough for care givers, by simply providing on the spot routine multi-chemistry and electrolyte results using a small patient sample size in any treatment setting. Unique advances in micro fluidics, dry reagents, and microelectronics have resulted in a system that can deliver quality results comparable to larger and more expensive laboratory analyzers at the point of care. Integrated calibration, quality control, sample integrity alerts, minimizes procedural errors.
Piccolo operation is as Simple as 1-2-3
Step 1: Add Sample
Simply collect 0.1cc of whole blood, serum or plasma, and transfer it to the self-contained reagent disc. The single use, disposable disc contains all the reagents and diluent necessary to perform a complete fixed multi-test panel.

Step 2: Insert Disc
Follow the touch screen commands. Place the disc into the analyzer drawer, enter requested information and the Piccolo xpress does the rest. In approximately 12 minutes, results are ready!
Step 3: Read Results
Complete panel results including patient demographics, chemistry concentrations, reference ranges, sample integrity indices and iQC are available on the full color display, printed on a self-adhesive print out, transmitted to an external printer, computer or LIS/EMR system. The Piccolo xpress analyzer will store on-board up to 5000 patient and quality control results.

Piccolo® xpress FAQ


Can the analyzer be connected to an external computer, printer, LIS or EMR?

The Piccolo System can be connected to an external computer or printer. Sample results, control results, and status reports are automatically transmitted through the USB port of the analyzer every time they are calculated or prepared. Popular terminal emulation software, such as Windows 95 HyperTerminal may be used to collect the data from the Piccolo. The Piccolo xpress supports the ASTM E 1394-97 communications protocol. The data can be transferred to many commercially available data management programs. Check with your software vendor or Abaxis® Technical Support for more information.

Can expired discs be used in the Piccolo xpress?
No. The analyzer has a built-in sensor to determine if the disc has expired. If it has, the analyzer will cancel the run and display a Code 13 error message.
From my experience - YES, if you manipulate the date set up in the machine change to date before the expire date of the discs,
the machine will think that the discs still within a good date, and it will run the test.. :)

What is the shelf life of the reagent discs?
The shelf life of a reagent disc ranges from 6-18 months depending on the type of disc (see package for expiration date). Abaxis® recommends that the discs be stored refrigerated at 2-8° C (36-46° F) and used directly from the refrigerator. Reagent discs stored above 8° C will degrade faster throughout their shelf life.

Do discs require warm-up time before use?
No. We recommend that discs be used one at a time directly from the refrigerator for optimal performance.

Can discs be frozen and used later?
No, discs MUST NOT be frozen. Reagent discs MUST be refrigerated at 2-8° C (36-46° F).

What types of samples can be used with the Piccolo xpress?
Lithium-heparin whole blood, lithium-heparin plasma, or serum. Do not use EDTA as an anti-coagulant.

What is the proper order of sample collection when filling multiple tubes?
Red top tubes (plain, no additive).
Green top tubes (lithium heparin).
Lavender top tubes (EDTA additive).

What are the power requirements needed to operate the analyzer?
The analyzer requires 100-240 volts AC, 50-60 Hz or 15 volts DC, 5.0A.
Is surge protection or an uninterruptible power supply required for the Piccolo xpress?
Abaxis recommends that the Piccolo be plugged into a surge protector designed for use with a computer. Abaxis recommends the use of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) if the Piccolo will be used in an area prone to electrical surges or power outages. UPS with surge protection may be purchased through Abaxis if desired.

What do the black symbols on the results print out mean?
The three black symbols mean that the results for that particular chemistry were suppressed. The analyzer is designed to give accurate results. If the analyzer is unable to give accurate results, it will suppress those results rather than print them. Collect a new sample and re-run the test. If results for the second sample are suppressed, contact Poct Ltd.

Should controls be run on the Piccolo xpress?
Abaxis recommends control testing as follows: at least every 30 days, whenever laboratory conditions have changed significantly, when training or re-training personnel is indicated, when test results do not match patient symptoms or clinical findings. Please see Section 2.4, "Testing Procedure and Interpretation of Results," in the Piccolo Operator Manual. (see also iQC document for further information.)

The controls are analyzed the same as the patient samples; the only difference is that the results are stored in a memory separate from the sample results memory. It makes recalling control results easier. See Section 6, "Calibration and Quality Control," in the Piccolo xpress Operator's Manual.

Where can control samples be purchased?
Controls can be purchased directly Poct Ltd.