Photo Feature: The Germinators

Vol. 9, No. 1

Jan. 2017

Photo Feature: The Germinators

National and state activities are a routine part of work at the State Hygienic Laboratory. Here are a few examples from the month of May.

The GERMinators (from left, Evan Raefield, Anna Mattson and Ari Collins) wait at their specimen collection table at Iowa City’s Shimek Elementary School to swab gloves worn by students.

Anna Mattson watches Stephany Cochran swab Ari Collins’ hand to explain the specimen collection process. Looking on are the Hygienic Laboratory’s Erica Larson, coordinator of the Center for the Advancement of Laboratory Science, and project advisor Hector Ibarra.

Evan collects a specimen from a glove worn by a student during school recess. This is the first step in testing the gloves for germs.

Anna applies the specimen in streaks to testing media in a petri dish, as step two of the process.

Ari labels the petri dish containing the specimen before it is sent to the lab for testing.

Colonies of bacteria grown in 24 hours are shown as a large black swath and in several other patterns on the red testing media.

Anna, Ari and Evan pose by the State Hygienic Laboratory sign in Coralville. The trio spent many weeks at the State Hygienic Laboratory learning about bacterial identification, transmission and testing.