Incubating the Culture

The sealed, labeled petri dish is placed in an incubator, which is a chamber that maintains a constant temperature and a specific percentage of carbon dioxide that is optimal for the growth of the bacteria. The culture usually remains in the incubator for 24 - 36 hours to allow sufficient time for any bacteria that may be present to grow.

This article was last reviewed on October 22, 2008. | This article was last modified on November 14, 2009.

The review date indicates when the article was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the article, so the two dates may not always agree.

The modified date indicates that one or more changes were made to the article. Such changes may or may not result from a full review of the article, so the two dates may not always agree.

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