p9hu7 said:

If you want to get your mind blown, try using a syringe for transfers.

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Drboomer said:

Is there a secret to using swabs? I'm streaking a couple plates and dunking on a thick poured pasty plate just piercing about 1/8 inch in not going through. The only thing germing is bacteria before the myc even gets a chance. I'm getting zero germ on my swipe plates, not even bacteria. I've even gone as far as flaming tweezers and pulling the cotton off in little chunks spreading them around a plate. That turned into bacteria soup.i have never had this hard of a time with swabs.
My agar is 2% pda (1.5 starch.5 sugar) 3% agar. It's a little soft but not super squishy. I'd say it's a medium stiffness

I've only got 1 more Avery and ape swabs left. I think my pe swab is a goner sucks to lose it.  This is getting expensive. All swabs of from different vendors on the sub, so I doubt it's the vendors.

As far as the needle poke biopsy method, is there a certain gauge needle I should be using? I have been trying it with super dirty cultures and getting no luck. Maybe I need to let the needle cool more or use a sacrificial plate to cool it.

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Zeppelinthecat said:

This is a noob question but is it common to take multiple transfers from one donor plate?

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oculodextro said:

So I had really bad luck with swabs that come from a medical supplier...

When I sterilized my own 0 problems

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You mean the cheap plastic wrapping isn't hole-proof and the folks at the "lab" don't stay on top of calibrating, maintaining, and properly using gamma radiation devices to sterilize massive quantities of swabs? I thought the stress of meeting quotas or getting fired was supposed to keet those workers in line. Mind blown...

Same experience here. I feel your pain.