microbiology lab report

Paper details:

General Information:

The lab report will be graded on content as well as spelling, grammar, punctuation, and organization.

Sections of the Unknown Lab Report:

Title

Unknown Lab report

Introduction

This section introduces the reader to the study and why the study was done. This should only be a few sentences

long.

For example: “There are many reasons for identifying an unknown bacterium. The reasons range from…[explain

2-3 reasons why you may want to identify an unknown bacterium]. This study was done by applying all of the

methods that have been learned in the microbiology laboratory class for the identification of an unknown

bacterium.”

Materials and Methods

This is where the details of the study are listed. Where did the specimen come from and what methods were

used to identify it? Be specific but do not rewrite the lab manual. One way is to mention the names of the

materials used and reference the lab manual or notes for the procedure or method and elaborate when

necessary. It is NOT necessary to write out the methods in detail, since this lab report is for the identification of

an unknown bacterium and the methods are explained in detail in the lab handouts.

Results

This is where the results are summarized. The method results should be in a table format (see examples below).

A short paragraph explaining how the results are presented can be included.

Example 1: Table 1: Biochemical Test Results

Test Purpose Reagents Observations Results

Gram Stain To determine the Gram rxn

of the bacterium

Crystal violet,

iodine, alcohol,

safranin

Pink rods Gram negative rods

Oxidase test To determine if the

bacterium performed

Hydrogen

Peroxide

bubbles Positive oxidase test

1511

Microbiology 020 Unknown Lab Report Fall 2015

Dr Kareen Martin

aerobic respiration

Glucose

fermentation

To determine the ability of

the bacterium to ferment a

specific carbohydrate

None Color change

from red to

yellow

Positive glucose

fermenter

Sucrose

fermentation

To determine the ability of

the bacterium to ferment a

specific carbohydrate

None Color change

from red to

yellow

Positive surcose

fermenter

Etc…..

Discussion/Conclusion

This section interprets the meaning of the results. The following questions should be answered here:

How did the test results lead to identification?

Was it the correct identification? If not, why not?

What problems were encountered?

This is also where background information on the organisms (environment preferred, pathogenicity, etc.) that

were identified is mentioned.

Example of a discussion: After several differential tests, it was concluded that unknown G was Escherichia coli.

After performing the Gram stain to determine that the unknown was a Gram negative rod, the organism was

grown on a TSA slant for use in inoculating the rest of the biochemical tests. All of the biochemical tests worked

well except for the indole test. It gave a false negative result at first. This was determined since it was inconsistent

with the rest of the result. The TA suggested that the test be repeated and it was repeated. The repeated test

gave a positive result, consistent with the other data. Therefore it was concluded that the unknown was

Escherichia coli. THIS CAN BE ELABORATED MORE FOR EACH TEST.

E. coli is in the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is typically found in the human intestines, as well as other animals. It

can cause disease in the right host. THE REST OF THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE RESEARCHED FROM

THE TEXTBOOK, INTERNET OR OTHER MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCES.

References

The minimum number of references is 3, which can include the lab manual and textbook. References may NOT

include Wikipedia. References should be listed in APA format (http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html

and http://citationmachine.net ) and in-text citations should be used where appropriate. Laboratory notes should

be referenced as such:

Bottoms, C., & Cain, D. (2006). Microbiology laboratory notes. 1 ed. Plano, TX: Collin County Community College.

microbiology lab report

Paper details:

General Information:

The lab report will be graded on content as well as spelling, grammar, punctuation, and organization.

Sections of the Unknown Lab Report:

Title

Unknown Lab report

Introduction

This section introduces the reader to the study and why the study was done. This should only be a few sentences

long.

For example: “There are many reasons for identifying an unknown bacterium. The reasons range from…[explain

2-3 reasons why you may want to identify an unknown bacterium]. This study was done by applying all of the

methods that have been learned in the microbiology laboratory class for the identification of an unknown

bacterium.”

Materials and Methods

This is where the details of the study are listed. Where did the specimen come from and what methods were

used to identify it? Be specific but do not rewrite the lab manual. One way is to mention the names of the

materials used and reference the lab manual or notes for the procedure or method and elaborate when

necessary. It is NOT necessary to write out the methods in detail, since this lab report is for the identification of

an unknown bacterium and the methods are explained in detail in the lab handouts.

Results

This is where the results are summarized. The method results should be in a table format (see examples below).

A short paragraph explaining how the results are presented can be included.

Example 1: Table 1: Biochemical Test Results

Test Purpose Reagents Observations Results

Gram Stain To determine the Gram rxn

of the bacterium

Crystal violet,

iodine, alcohol,

safranin

Pink rods Gram negative rods

Oxidase test To determine if the

bacterium performed

Hydrogen

Peroxide

bubbles Positive oxidase test

1511

Microbiology 020 Unknown Lab Report Fall 2015

Dr Kareen Martin

aerobic respiration

Glucose

fermentation

To determine the ability of

the bacterium to ferment a

specific carbohydrate

None Color change

from red to

yellow

Positive glucose

fermenter

Sucrose

fermentation

To determine the ability of

the bacterium to ferment a

specific carbohydrate

None Color change

from red to

yellow

Positive surcose

fermenter

Etc…..

Discussion/Conclusion

This section interprets the meaning of the results. The following questions should be answered here:

How did the test results lead to identification?

Was it the correct identification? If not, why not?

What problems were encountered?

This is also where background information on the organisms (environment preferred, pathogenicity, etc.) that

were identified is mentioned.

Example of a discussion: After several differential tests, it was concluded that unknown G was Escherichia coli.

After performing the Gram stain to determine that the unknown was a Gram negative rod, the organism was

grown on a TSA slant for use in inoculating the rest of the biochemical tests. All of the biochemical tests worked

well except for the indole test. It gave a false negative result at first. This was determined since it was inconsistent

with the rest of the result. The TA suggested that the test be repeated and it was repeated. The repeated test

gave a positive result, consistent with the other data. Therefore it was concluded that the unknown was

Escherichia coli. THIS CAN BE ELABORATED MORE FOR EACH TEST.

E. coli is in the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is typically found in the human intestines, as well as other animals. It

can cause disease in the right host. THE REST OF THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE RESEARCHED FROM

THE TEXTBOOK, INTERNET OR OTHER MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCES.

References

The minimum number of references is 3, which can include the lab manual and textbook. References may NOT

include Wikipedia. References should be listed in APA format (http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html

and http://citationmachine.net ) and in-text citations should be used where appropriate. Laboratory notes should

be referenced as such:

Bottoms, C., & Cain, D. (2006). Microbiology laboratory notes. 1 ed. Plano, TX: Collin County Community College.