Preserving the motility of microorganisms.
This study focused on several factors that may influence the percentage of motile microorganisms in a sample from the tongue determined using a phase-contrast microscope. It was found that the time elapsing between sampling and analysis is crucially important. In both sterile saline and reduced transport fluid (RTF), a reduction of the percentage of motile microorganisms was found within 15-30 min after sampling respectively. In order to be able to prolong the time interval between sampling and analysis, it was found that storing a sample in a tuberculin syringe with RTF supplemented with Fildes extract preserved the motility of the microorganisms and gave no significant reduction in the percentage of motiles within 48 h.
Petit
M D
MD
Department of Periodontology, Academic Centre for Dentistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Van der Velden
U
U
Van Winkelhoff
A J
AJ
De Graaff
J
J
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement; D003470:Culture Media; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013997:Time Factors
D003470:Culture Media