How to use Dehydrated Culture Media
Possible sources for errors during preparation and handling


Clumping of dehydrated culture media


Humidity was too high during storage

Container was left open too long

Container was not tightly sealed after it had been opened

Dehydrated culture medium was too old
pH-shift


Water was not neutral

Container was not tightly sealed after it had been opened

Culture medium was overheated during preparation

Dehydrated culture medium was too old
Turbidity, precipitation


Turbidity of the prepared culture medium should only be considered as an error if it appears in the culture vessel (e.g. Petri dish, test tube etc.). Any turbidity observed in the vessel used for preparation due to the presence of a considerably thicker layer of culture medium is of no consequence. Precipitates which settle out to form sediments indicate, however, that an error has been made. Exception: obligatorily turbid culture media!

Water was not adequately demineralized

Vessel used for preparation was not clean

pH-value was incorrect (see "pH adjustment")

Culture medium was overheated during preparation

In the case of self-mixed culture media, the basic components contained precipitating impurities

Caused by the sample material

Loss of water of the prepared culture medium due to evaporation
Solidification point too high


Important when sample material or heat sensitive substances are to be mixed into the culture media when they are still fluid

Too much dehydrated culture medium was weighed out

Agar-agar not suitable
Gel stability too low


Insufficient dehydrated culture medium was weighed out

Dehydrated culture medium was not completely dissolved

Culture medium was overheated, possibly at a low pH value, during preparation (see "pH adjustment")

Vessel was not swirled before pouring the plates

In the case of self-mixed culture media, unsuitable or too little agar-agar

Acidic culture medium was not prepared under mild conditions (see "Acidic culture media")
color change


In the case of culture media containing indicators, the pH was incorrect (see "pH adjustment")

Culture medium was overheated during preparation: culture medium dark, colored pigments destroyed, sugar caramelized

Vessel used for preparation was not clean


Ready-to-use culture medium contaminated


Inadequate sterilization

Contaminated after sterilization, e.g. while pouring the plates, contaminated Petri dishes
Growth too poor


Residues of growth inhibiting substances present in the vessels used for preparation culture (e.g. detergent) in the water used (e.g. substances from the air), in the sample material

Microorganisms in the sample material already damaged

pH shift in the case of culture medium

In the case of culture medium bases, additives dosed incorrectly

pH shift caused by acid (or basic) sample material

Culture medium was overheated during preparation

In the case of pour-plates, temperature was too high
Growth too strong


Culture medium was overheated during preparation causing destruction of selective inhibitors

In the case of culture medium bases, additives dosed incorrectly

Culture medium was inoculated with too much sample material
Colonies liquefy or swarm


Surface of the culture medium was too moist

Surface of the culture medium was inoculated with too much sample material

Culture medium was overheated during preparation causing destruction of inhibitors
Atypical growth


Culture medium prepared incorrectly

Dehydrated culture medium was too old

Prepared culture medium was too old or unfit for use

Wrong conditions were used for cultivation

Residues of foreign substances present in the vessel used for preparation or culture (e.g. detergents), in the water used, in the sample material