Creating a sterile environment using the Bunsen burner (EN)

Creating a sterile working environment, using the Bunsen burner

Goal: To give “your” microorganism a head start on "foreign" microorganisms present in the air, on the table or on instruments you use.

Creating a sterile bubble with a blue 'rustling' flame:

• Close windows and doors and let everyone know you will be inoculating and lighting the flame.
• No talking, no walking around.
  
• Sit down while working with the flame, to avoid accidentally leaning into the flame.
• Clean the table with 70% alcohol BEFORE you light the flame. 
• Open the gas valve and quickly light the yellow flame. Then open oxygen supply ring until you get a noisy blue 'rustling' flame:
• Work within 10 cm radius of flame on all sides:
  
  
  
  
• Don't wear gloves or synthetic face masks (can glue to skin when hot).
• Point tip of alcohol bottle away from flame at all times!
• Open petri dishes as little as possible, open petri dishes 'oyster style' towards the flame.
• Pass neck of bottle through the flame before and after each pour to sterilize the neck.
• Work fast but don't rush, get comfortable and at all times stay seated.
• Don’t move the gas burner when it's on.
  
• When finished, close the oxygen supply until you get a yellow flame, then close the gas supply.