Pharmaceutical

Microbiology Lab 2

EXPERIMENT NO:1:-

SAMPLING OF BACTERIA FROM AIR:-

MICROBIOLOGY OF AIR:-

Of all environmental, air is the simplest one and it occurs in a single phase, gas. Air is not
a natural environment for the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. It does not contain
necessary amount of moisture and utilizable form of nutrient. In addition to gasses, dust particles
and water vapours , air also contains microorganisms. There are vegetative cells and spores of
bacteria, fungi and algae, viruses and protozoan cysts. Air is mainly a transport (or) dispersal
medium for microorganisms they occur in relatively small numbers in air when compared with
soil (or) water. The micro flora of air can be studied under two headings outdoor and indoor
micro flora.

MICROBES PRESENT IN AIR:The micro flora of air consists of chiefly of spores of fungi, especially

Penicillin
Aspergillus,
Cladosporium,
Hemodendrum,
Ahernaria
Ascospores of yeast,
Conidia of Streptomycetes

SAMPLING OF AIR:A number of methods can be used to test air for mold or other microbial
contamination. One of the oldest methods of testing air for microbial contamination is the settle

Pharmaceutical
Microbiology Lab 2

plates method. Though the method is semi-quantitative, it is still considered a useful method. In
industries such as food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics the method is used to assess the likely
number of microorganisms depositing onto the product or surface in a given time. The method
involves opening and exposing petri dishes containing agar medium suitable for growth of
microorganisms of interest.

COLONY COUNTER:-

REQUIRMENTS:

Nutrient agar
Petri plates
Conical flask
Stirrer
Spirit lamp
Tripod stand
Wire gauze
Colony counter

PROCEDURE:

Measure the components of the medium (e.g. nutrient agar) into a flask
containing 9/10 volume of the solvent. Use a clean chemical spoon for every
measurement. Dissolve the solid components and fill with the remaining solvent
up to final volume.
Close the flask with cotton plug and cover with aluminium foil, put into the

autoclave
Cool the sterilized medium to 55C into the laminar air flow hood.
Take out the cotton plug and flame the mouth of the flask over a Bunsen
burner, and then pour the medium into sterile, empty Petri dishes (15-20 mL

into each Petri dish).

Keep the Petri dishes horizontally until the medium completely solidifies. Turn

dishes upside-down and stack them up for storage

Label the plates according to the type of the medium.

Pharmaceutical
Microbiology Lab 2

Keep the plates in the chamber of air sampler and expose the plates for 5-10

minutes to allow the air to expose on the surface of medium on the plates.
Take out the plates from the chamber and incubate at 27C for 24 hours.

OBSERVATIONS:Observe the growth of bacterial colonies. Count the colony forming unit
(CFUs) of bacteria by using colony counter which indicate the viable number of bacteria present
in air.