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These resources have been reviewed and selected by STEM Learning’s team of education specialists for factual accuracy and relevance to teaching STEM subjects in UK schools.

Investigating Antimicrobials

From Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), these materials encourage students to use disc diffusion tests to investigate antibacterial or anti-yeast properties. A wide range of products, both synthetic and natural, claim to have microbicidal properties. Students can test these claims.

Experimental method and materials are given in the resources. Students perform a range of techniques, such as plating microbes onto agar, using impregnated discs and measuring zones of inhibition.

Suggested test substances include:
• disinfectants
• hand washes
• surface cleaners
• garlic or other herbs
• T-tree oil

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