DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPREAD PLATE METHOD AND POUR PLATE METHOD

 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPREAD PLATE METHOD AND POUR PLATE METHOD

Features	Spread plate method	Pour plate method
Definition	A technique used to count or isolate bacterial colonies on the surface of the agar.	A plate prepared by mixing the inoculum with the cooled but still molten medium before pouring the latter into the Petri dish.
Preparation	Inoculum is spread on the solidified agar on a plate by a spreader.	Molten agar is poured on the inoculum in a Petri dish and gently swirled.
Amount of Inoculum	0.1 ml	1 ml
Use of Glass L - Rod	Uses a Glass L – Rod  to spread the sample evenly on the surface.	Not used.
Colony growth	Only on the surface of the medium.	In and on the medium.
Area of Growth	Less area to grow.	More area to grow.
Purpose	To isolate specific clonal colonies.	To count the number of colony forming bacteria in a sample.
Advantages	Even distribution of colonies.	Allows the identification of bacteria as Aerobes, Anaerobes or Facultative aerobes. Allows the growth of Microaerophiles.
Disadvantages	Does not allow the growth of Microaerophiles.	Picking a colony may interrupt other colonies.