Lab reports on Unknown should consist of at least 7 sections. Failure to include any of these sections will result in loss of points. If any descriptions/directions from the lab reports guidelines are included in a lab report points will be deducted.
Report Format/Submission
When formal reports are required they will have/be:
Single line or double line spacing.
Font as Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri
Font size 12
1 inch margins on all sides
Each format violation will result in a 5% deduction of score to a maximum of 10%.
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Section 1: Cover Sheet: (10 pts)
Name, Lab Meeting Time & Days, Unknown Number & Organism
The Unknown Number and Name must be included on the cover sheet to get full credit for your report. Bacterial name must be written correctly: Genus name capitalized first letter, species name lower case, all in italics or underlined.
Sections 2&3: Gram Stain method and results (20 pts)
Gram Stain: Should be drawn by hand in color. Total Magnification should also be included. Write out the method you used for Gram stain (be precise when detailing the times used, especially for decolorization) in this section. Describe your conclusion for Gram reaction and cell morphology.
Section 4: Materials and Methods: (20 pts)
Include descriptions of all media used, inoculating techniques, incubation temperature and time of incubation, reagents used for testing media or techniques used to read results for each test presented in the Biochemical tests. You do not have to describe aseptic technique; it is enough to say that you used aseptic technique. All procedures (except for Gram Stain) go in this section. Write in complete sentences, not lists.DO NOT put results in this section.
Section 5: Biochemical Tests Chart (RESULTS): (20 pts)
You will have two biochemical test charts for your two unknowns. Include all tests with pictures performed except Gram stain. Do not include Discussion in this section.
Section 5: Biochemical Tests Chart: EXAMPLE
Section 6: Discussion (20 pts)
The discussion should include the process you used to identity your unknown organism. It should be written in third person, as a result the following terms should not be used; I, me, mine, or my. Also, bacterial names must be written correctly. Bacterial genera should always be capitalized and species should always be lower case. Both genus and species should always be italicized when typed. Bacterial names may be abbreviated after the complete name has been written one time in the discussion.
E. g. Clostridium sporogenes; after abbreviation: C. sporogenes
The discussion will likely begin with your Gram stain results. Tell exactly how you eliminated other organisms (citing their names) in determining the identity of your unknown. You should discuss any problems encountered throughout the process, such as difficulty Gram staining or results of any tests that did not turn out as expected. No procedures should be included in the discussion. Finally do a little research and report on your organism and how it might be important to identify it in a clinical situation.
Section 7: References: (10 pts)
You must include at least one reference in addition to your lab manual for your conclusion section. Please do not use the Laboratory Handouts since this is not a published resource. If an online reference is used it can NOT be Wikipedia. Todar’s Online Textbook of Bacteriology is acceptable. If you have questions about the validity of a reference contact the instructor before using the source.
