Apply Aseptic Technique
Use infection evidence to apply aseptic technique step by step.
- Transmission basics: Outbreak work depends on agent, host, route, time, and place.
- Case definition: Students need a rule for who counts as a case before counting cases.
Prerequisites are inferred: pending teacher review.
Re-learn the skill with worked practice and clear examples.
Put the sterile-transfer steps in the right order. The loop is flamed and cooled before it touches cells, and tube mouths are flamed when opened and closed.
Use the step table. You have just flamed the inoculating loop red-hot (step 2). What must you do BEFORE picking up cells?
Reviewed| Order | Sterile-transfer step |
|---|---|
| 1 | Wipe the bench and wash hands |
| 2 | Flame the inoculating loop until red-hot, then let it cool |
| 3 | Open the culture tube and pass its mouth through the flame |
| 4 | Pick up cells with the cooled loop and transfer to fresh agar |
| 5 | Re-flame the tube mouth, re-cap, and re-flame the loop |
- A.Let the loop cool so its heat does not kill the cells
- B.Touch the loop to your glove to test it
- C.Pick up cells immediately while the loop is glowing
- D.Set the loop down and walk away for five minutes
Show the worked solution ▾
Answer: A. Let the loop cool so its heat does not kill the cells
- Step 1: Locate the step: The table shows step 2 is 'flame the loop until red-hot, then let it cool.'
- Step 2: Apply the reason: A red-hot loop would kill the cells you are trying to transfer, so it must cool first.
Why it's right: Per the step table, after flaming you let the loop cool: a glowing loop would kill the cells you want to transfer.
- B: Touching the loop to your glove contaminates it; gloves are not sterile.
- C: A glowing loop would kill the cells, so you cannot pick them up yet.
- D: Walking away leaves the open work exposed and is not the next step.
Aligned to LSOP: order the sterile-transfer steps · reading level ~grade 9
- A student follows the printed step card and pauses to cool the loop before touching the broth.
Fill these in as you work through the lesson.
- Sterile (no living microbes on it):
- Contamination (stray microbes get in):
- Inoculating loop (wire tool flamed to sterilize):
- Flaming (heating to kill microbes):
After flaming the loop red-hot you must let it before touching cells, and you never let a sterile surface touch your or the .
- Why is the loop flamed before AND the tube mouth flamed when opened?
- What is the correct order of the sterile-transfer steps?
- Name one action that would contaminate a flamed loop.
Read the five-step transfer card, then describe one action a careless student could add that would break sterility, and say why.