1 A do-it-yourself approach for basic basement steps starts around $250-$350 for materials, and takes about 3-4 hours. 2  That's with standard lumber, such as pine; costs can go much higher with more expensive wood, such as oak.
Pour enough melted agar into each sterile plastic petri dish to cover the bottom - about 1/8 to 1/4 deep. Replace the lid immediately. Place agar plates on a counter top to cool and set. Agar medium will set like stiff gelatin at room temperature. The agar medium is now ready for storage or use.
Method of Use: Plates should be warmed to room temperature and the agar surface should be dry prior to inoculating. Inoculate and streak the specimen as soon as possible after collection. If the specimen to be cultured is on a swab, roll the swab over a small area of the agar surface. Streak for isolation with a sterile loop. Incubate plates aerobically at 35-37Â°C for 18-24 hours (some organisms may take longer than 24 hours for visible growth to appear). Examine for colonial morphology.