Methods of inoculation of sample (bacteria) in media:

a. Streaking: Platinum or nichrome wire loop is used for streaking. The loop is first sterilized in Bunsen flame and then cooled. Now the specimen or sample(eg. Small portion of culture bacteria from colony) is inoculated to form uniform lines in different segments of plates. The streaking are done as primary (1o), secondary (2o), and so on as do favor by the surface of the media plate.

b. Lawn or carpet culture: In this method, liquid specimen or sample is poured on the surface of media or culture plate and can be uniformly distributed with the help of cotton swab. There is uniform growth of microbe throughout the media. This method is generally employed in antibiotic sensitivity testing (AST).

c. Stab culture method: Stab cultures are solid agar media in test tubes. In this method, bacteria introduced in stab cultures via an inoculation needle into the center of agar. The bacteria grow in this punctured area. Stab cultures are popularly used in lab to test motility of bacteria (motile bacteria grow away from the stab or puncture line also).

d. Pour plate culture method: In this method, several tubes with agar medium are melted first and then cooled. Specimen is inoculated in each tube and each is poured in separate petridish and left to solidify. Eg. Urine culture (to estimate viable count).