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board_control
Stranger
Registered: 08/09/20
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Potential contam (black mold) on agar
#26871448 - 08/09/20 11:38 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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I bought some pre poured agar plates and they have some contam now. One of the plates had spores put on it while the others weren't opened at all. Since the pics are low quality, I'll mention the first one has more of a green tinge while the others are pitch black in their contam color. I wanted to confirm that it's black mold and see what I could have done differently. Is there anything I can salvage from this batch or am I back to square one? Also, are there health risks for living in a spot that supposedly led to black mold growing?
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Goatrider
Rhythm Guitarist



Registered: 04/08/20
Posts: 4,396
Loc: Germany
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: board_control]
#26871474 - 08/09/20 11:54 AM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Don`t open them anymore. It has sporulated and you can easily breath it in. Mail the pics of the unopened to the vendor. There`s in no way any salvation!
Living in a place with lots of black mold is quite dangerous, and may lead to cancer.
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board_control
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: Goatrider]
#26871568 - 08/09/20 12:52 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Is it possible to know if the black mold was from my house or the vendor's house? I didn't see any when they first shipped (just some water droplets so I'm inclined to think it's mine but not sure how it got into them all since they're sealed with plastic wrap.
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Goatrider
Rhythm Guitarist



Registered: 04/08/20
Posts: 4,396
Loc: Germany
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: board_control]
#26871629 - 08/09/20 01:27 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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We need some time frame. When did you get them, and when did you see that black?
If they were wrapped, and you didn't open, it was in there before.
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board_control
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: Goatrider]
#26871685 - 08/09/20 02:11 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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The pre-poured plates were delivered about a week and a half ago. I believe the dark spots showed up a few days ago. They weren't vaccum sealed but did have saran wrap around most of the perimeter.
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Goatrider
Rhythm Guitarist



Registered: 04/08/20
Posts: 4,396
Loc: Germany
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: board_control]
#26871704 - 08/09/20 02:24 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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After all, these plates are fucked of course. You can get rid of them.
But i would worry more about my living area. If you really have some visible lot of aspergillus or other around, i'd move away immediately. Or are we just talking for a few spots round a bathtub or something?
That's more important than a few plates i think.
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board_control
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: Goatrider]
#26871709 - 08/09/20 02:28 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Is living space black mold always obvious? I can't see any near where I was storing them but I guess that doesn't guarantee it isn't there.
Would the syringe be bad too or just the plates?
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Gan
Wielder of Narya



Registered: 08/26/19
Posts: 927
Loc: Valinor
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: board_control]
#26871727 - 08/09/20 02:40 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Any way to get better and closer pics of the plates?
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Kernale
Big Guy



Registered: 07/08/20
Posts: 96
Loc: Bikini Bottom
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: board_control]
#26871736 - 08/09/20 02:46 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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If the plates grew mold without you opening them it was likely contaminated during production. Ask for a refund.
In the future just pour your own agar. If you already have an SAB for working with agar then you have the means to pour your own. In my opinion there is no reason to ever buy pre-poured plates.
Also, I wouldn't worry TOO much about black mold, if you can't see any growing in your house then its probably not enough to cause health issues. I lived for a few years with black mold all over my bathroom ceiling and I'm still alive (so far).
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Edited by Kernale (08/09/20 02:50 PM)
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board_control
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: Gan]
#26871771 - 08/09/20 03:12 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Unfortunately my phone camera is pretty awful. Is there anything you're looking for that I can check?
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board_control
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: Kernale]
#26871774 - 08/09/20 03:13 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Thanks for the recommendation. I have an SAB but don't have a pressure cooker which is why I was buying pre-poured. Is it possible to make my own plates without a PC?
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Kernale
Big Guy



Registered: 07/08/20
Posts: 96
Loc: Bikini Bottom
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Re: Potential contam (black mold) on agar [Re: board_control]
#26872085 - 08/09/20 06:21 PM (3 years, 5 months ago) |
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Oh I guess I never thought of that 
I don't think theres any way to sterilize agar without a pc/autoclave, but instead of buying lots of pre-poured agar (you will need a lot) spend that money on a PC. I consider a PC essential equipment for this hobby, you can get away without it but at what cost?
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