Metal Inoculating Loop

This is the Bangladeshi-made-only metal inoculating loop which is used with a nichrome holder. Its length is 2.5 inches to 5 inches depending on stock.

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A metal inoculating loop is a laboratory tool used in microbiology for transferring microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi, from one location to another. It consists of a metal wire loop attached to a handle, typically made of heat-resistant materials like nichrome wire or platinum wire.

Here’s Some Typically used of Metal Inoculating Loop:

1. Sterilization: Before use, the metal loop is sterilized by heating it to high temperatures using a Bunsen burner or an electric incinerator. This ensures that any microorganisms present on the loop are destroyed, preventing contamination of the sample from being transferred.

2. Inoculation: Once sterilized, the loop is used to pick up a small amount of the microbial culture from a Petri dish, agar plate, or liquid culture. This can be done by gently touching the loop to the microbial colony or suspension.

3. Transfer: The loop with the microbial sample is then transferred to a new medium, such as another agar plate or a broth culture, where the microorganisms can grow and be further studied.

4. Sterilization Between Transfers: Between transfers, the loop may need to be sterilized again to prevent cross-contamination between different samples. This is typically done by reheating the loop until it glows red hot, effectively killing any remaining microorganisms.

Metal inoculating loops are essential tools in microbiology laboratories for tasks such as streaking agar plates for isolation, inoculating liquid cultures, and performing biochemical tests on microorganisms. They come in various sizes and shapes to accommodate different applications and can be reusable if properly sterilized between uses.