]]> If the agar surface of the plate is visibly wet, use a sterile swab to gently remove the water On the bottom of the petri plate, divide the plate into thirds with your wax marker Lift the edge of the lid just enough to insert the loop Streak the loop across the surface of the agar medium Keep the loop parallel to the the agar surface when streaking Remove the loop and immediately close the lid Resterilize the inoculating loop by placing it in the microincinerator for 10 seconds