Plating for Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations - done in triplicates? (Apr/15/2010 )

Hi all

So I am a PhD student who needs some data from a previous student for my upcoming paper. Basically this former student performed MIC tests (E-test) but she did not do them in triplicates.

Is it really necessary to perform MIC testings in triplicates? I was told that all tests should be done in triplicates but then in this case would one need to select three separate colonies and test them? I personally do not see a point in performing triplicates from the same swab of the same colony.

Thanks so much

The reason for triplicates usually is in case you missed adding something to one of the replicates (e.g. no sample to one well of 96 well plate in a PCR run). I am not familiar with MIC's but there may well be something similar in the process.

That is a very good reason I tend to forget when it comes to thinking why triplicates are needed. I was thinking more along the lines of coming up with an average MIC so that the values can be more precise. Thanks