Culturing microorganisms

Counting microbial populations

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Practise calculating dilutions for bacterial growth cultures and using colony plates at different dilutions to calculate colony forming units per millilitre. Use these skills to reach a diagnostic conclusion in a novel scenario.

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Learning outcomes

Calculate the appropriate level of dilution needed to produce a countable number of bacterial colonies.
Assess which agar plate dilutions should be included in a CFU/mL counting exercise.
Collect the appropriate data by counting the number of viable colonies.
Calculate the average colony number and calculate CFU/mL.
Conclude whether or not there are health implications in the context of a urinary tract infection based on the calculated CFU/mL value.

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Skills

Obtaining and Recording Data

How to identify and count colonies on a microbial plate for use in colony forming units per millilitre calculations

Manipulating and Presenting Data

How to calculate volumes for specific dilutions
How to calculate colony forming units per millilitre for different dilutions
How to calculate the average colony forming units per millilitre

Interpreting and Analysing Data

Defining whether the colony forming units per millilitre are above or below a pre-defined clinical threshold to make a diagnosis

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Dr. Alexandra Moores

School of Biosciences, University of Kent

The Smart Worksheet was extremely useful to see the overall understanding and application of theories that we expected students to be able to use. The feedback is clear and accessible, enabling students to gain a deeper understanding of the topic they are studying and aiding in their success.

Details

Degrees

Biomedical science

Biological science

Foundation science

Modules

Microbiology

Topic

Culturing microorganisms

Purchase option

The Smart Worksheet Library

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