Hand Washing Lab Outline
Hand Washing Experiment Outline
I. Introduction a. This lab was conducted in order to understand and apply the scientific method. The experiment tested the effectiveness of reducing microorganism (bacteria) with the use of various hand soaps. b. Hypothesis: If the Harris Teeter Foaming Hand Soap is more effective in reducing bacterial growth than the Soft Soap hand soap, then there will be less bacterial/microorganism growth present on the agar plate for the Harris Teeter Foaming hand soap. II. Materials and Methods c. Obtain 3 agar plates and 2 different brands of hand soap. Label each agar plate and draw a line to separate each plate into 2 sections (control and experimental). d. Touch control side of each plate with hands rinsed only with water. Touch both sides of plate #1 (control) e. Wash left hand with one brand of soap for 2 minutes and then touch experimental side of plate #2 f. Wash right hand with other brand of soap for 2 minutes and then touch experimental side of plate #3 g. Seal plates with Parafilm. III. Results h. Harris Teeter Foaming Hand soap was more effective than the Soft Soap hand soap i. Controls showed a greater amount of growth compared to the sides which used hand soap j. Harris Teeter Foaming Hand Soap displayed a slight amount of dispersed bacterial growth as opposed to Soft Soap hand soap that displayed large groups of bacterial growth similar to the control area on the plate. IV. Discussion k. Harris Teeter Foaming hand soap has a higher concentration of Triclosan (antibacterial active ingredient) than Soft Soap (0.46% vs. 0.115%) l. Higher concentrations of Triclosan allowed for a greater reduction of bacterial presence on hands less bacterial growth on agar plate m. Foaming action increases effectiveness? i. Greater surface area – more interaction between soap and object that needs to be cleaned
I. Introduction a. This lab was conducted in order to understand and apply the scientific method. The experiment tested the effectiveness of reducing microorganism (bacteria) with the use of various hand soaps. b. Hypothesis: If the Harris Teeter Foaming Hand Soap is more effective in reducing bacterial growth than the Soft Soap hand soap, then there will be less bacterial/microorganism growth present on the agar plate for the Harris Teeter Foaming hand soap. II. Materials and Methods c. Obtain 3 agar plates and 2 different brands of hand soap. Label each agar plate and draw a line to separate each plate into 2 sections (control and experimental). d. Touch control side of each plate with hands rinsed only with water. Touch both sides of plate #1 (control) e. Wash left hand with one brand of soap for 2 minutes and then touch experimental side of plate #2 f. Wash right hand with other brand of soap for 2 minutes and then touch experimental side of plate #3 g. Seal plates with Parafilm. III. Results h. Harris Teeter Foaming Hand soap was more effective than the Soft Soap hand soap i. Controls showed a greater amount of growth compared to the sides which used hand soap j. Harris Teeter Foaming Hand Soap displayed a slight amount of dispersed bacterial growth as opposed to Soft Soap hand soap that displayed large groups of bacterial growth similar to the control area on the plate. IV. Discussion k. Harris Teeter Foaming hand soap has a higher concentration of Triclosan (antibacterial active ingredient) than Soft Soap (0.46% vs. 0.115%) l. Higher concentrations of Triclosan allowed for a greater reduction of bacterial presence on hands less bacterial growth on agar plate m. Foaming action increases effectiveness? i. Greater surface area – more interaction between soap and object that needs to be cleaned