Educational bacteria & pH test kit contents

• 3 x boxes (30 dipslides) of Nutrient TTC & Malt Extract Dipslides for testing bacteria, yeasts & moulds (if you buy this kit, you get 3 boxes of dipslides for the price of 2)
• Choose your incubator – please choose the most appropriate incubator to suit your needs. You can select your choice from the dropdown. Price varies depending on incubator chosen.
• 60 x Sterile Swabs
• One box of pH strips 0-14 (100 strips)

This kit will allow you to run a number of experiments including:

• Bacteria tests
• Yeasts and moulds tests
• pH tests

The items in the kit are easy to use and it is simple to evaluate results.

Use the swabs to collect samples from a variety of sources. 

Examples: 

• Phones
• Computer Keyboards
• Door handles
• Photocopier
• Books

You can then transfer the sample onto the dipslide (bacteria, yeasts and moulds test) using the swab.

You can also dip the dipslides in liquids such as water.

You can assess the dipslide results within 24-120 hours of the test.

pH test ideas - You could test different types of water with the pH strips and see how they differ:

• Tap water
• Bottled water
• Pond water
• Rain water

You could test the pH of numerous acidic and alkaline samples such as:

Acidic

Vinegar

Lemon juice

Tomato juice

Coffee

Alkaline

Toothpaste

Soap / soapy water

Bicarbonate of soda

Seawater

Incubator choices:

GNAT MX2 (2 dipslide capacity)

ORION MX8 (8 dipslide capacity)

MX10 variable temperature (8 dipslides or several 100mm petri dishes capacity)

Challenger MX25 variable temperature (25 dipslides or 30 x 95mm petri dishes capacity)

Ranger MX45 variable temperature (45 dipslides or 3 stacks of 100mm petri dishes capacity)

How to use and interpreting results

pH strips

Simply dip the non bleed pH indicator strips into the sample for up to 2 seconds. After 20-30 seconds, use the colour scale to determine the pH of the sample. Match the colour shade on the chart to what appears on the strip once you have tested the sample.

Sterile swabs

Wearing gloves, open the pouch and remove the sterile swab carefully. Without using excessive pressure, use the swab to collect your sample. Carefully streak the sample onto one side of the dipslide. Dispose of the swab and incubate the dipslide or open a new swab, collect a new sample and repeat on the other side of the dipslide.

Nutrient Agar with TTC and Malt Extract Agar dipslides

A dipslide is a simple tool used for microbiological monitoring. A dipslide has a paddle with an agar (ready to use growth / culture medium) on each side. The pre made agar makes a dipslide very convenient to use as you do not need to prepare your own culture media.

Nutrient Agar is a general purpose agar that tests for total count bacteria / microbes. The Nutrient agar incorporates red spot dye which makes it easier to interpret results. Malt Extract Agar tests for yeasts and moulds. This is a general purpose slide that can be used in a variety of applications.

Please see below pictorial guide on how to conduct a test and read results.

Step 1 : Remove slide

Carefully remove the sterile Nutrient + Malt Extract dip slide from its tube ensuring that no contact is made with the agar (to avoid contamination).

Step 2 : If Surface Testing

For surface testing, press the Nutrient + Malt Extract dipslide onto the surface. If needed, place a finger on the bottom of the slide (on the plastic, not the agar) to apply extra pressure.

Step 2 : If liquid testing

For liquid testing, immerse the Nutrient + Malt Extract dipslide into the fluid for 10 seconds then remove and allow to drain for a few seconds.

Step 2 : If swab testing

Apply a sample of the test substance to a sterile swab and gently apply to the agars.

Step 3 : Incubate Slide

Label the tube with the included stickers then place the slide into an incubator and allow to incubate.

Step 4 : Compare results

Count the amount of colonies that have grown on the slide and compare them to the comparison chart provided.

Incubator

Instructions vary depending on incubator chosen. Please follow instructions included with the incubator. The dipslides in this kit require incubation at 30 degrees C. The MX2 (2 dipslide capacity) incubator and MX8 (8 dipslide capacity) incubator are pre-set at 30 degrees C. The MX10, MX25 and MX45 are variable temperature incubators that can be set at a wide range of temperatures including 30 degrees C. You can find out more about our incubators by browsing our ‘incubator’ section.

Safety & precautions when using dipslides in an educational environment (please read before purchasing)

Please do not leave any of the kit items unattended with anyone under the age of 18.

Keep dipslides sealed inside their containers once you have used them to test a sample. Read results through the clear container without removing the dipslide. Please always take care around contaminated dipslides.

We recommend the use of gloves when using the dipslides.

Please refrain from eating or drinking in the vicinity of the dipslides.

Since the use of dipslides involves growing micro-organisms, it is important to consider whether it is appropriate in an educational environment where there are students with compromised immune systems.

Allergen advice: Please note that the dipslides in this kit contain yeast extract. Not to be used by anyone with a yeast allergy. Full ingredients can be found on the datasheet in the ‘attachments’ tab at the top of the product page.

After use, dispose of dipslides in the correct manner by either incineration, autoclaving or soaking in disinfectant for several hours before disposal. Only adults should deal with the disposal of dipslides.

MSDS can be found in the attachments tab at the top of the product page.