After careful consideration, I chose my original sample from my son's computer mouse. I thought this would be a great place where many types of bacteria could exist. Fifteen year old boys aren't the most hygienic creatures and that's why I swabbed the mouse. However, early in the identification process, my sample turned out to be a fungus. My only option was to then use the sample my wife had removed from her work shoe. She is a nurse in a hospital and is exposed to many different environments. She wiped the side of the shoe she first wore to work. I then began biological testing on my new sample. The first test we performed was the initial Gram stain. This test gave detailed information about the cell wall and structure of growing bacteria. This was a lengthy process that involved placing the bacteria on a slide, heat fixing them, and adding different compounds to the slide. I examined it under a microscope and a purple shade with several cells was visualized. After the staining process, my bacteria turned out to be Gram positive and rod shaped. We then isolated the bacteria to obtain a pure culture. I had to do it twice; the first plaque had areas of contamination mixed with my bacteria. It was either my inoculation process or something in the air had landed on the box. Once a pure culture was obtained, I continued testing. The citrate test is used to see if bacteria have the ability to use citrate as a food source. After forty-eight hours in the incubator, the medium turned bright blue as it consumed the citric acid. This gave the media an alkaline pH. Several tests made it possible to definitively identify the bac...... middle of paper ...... potential health risks. The presence of bacteria usually found on the skin would be correct for the location. I was surprised that no Escherichia coli bacteria was found. People often think that a hospital is a clean place. This is far from true. Hospitalized patients are sick and seeking medical attention. When you are present, you are exposed to many different elements. Bacteria are everywhere we turn. There's no escaping it. We must do our best to prevent the spread of germs. Handwashing is a fundamental thing we can all do to help. I stop now and think about what my hands are touching. The handle of a grocery cart can harbor hundreds or even thousands of potentially deadly bacteria or viruses. Simply being more aware of your surroundings and what's in them could potentially save you from infection..