School of Biotechnology · Microbiology
Microbiology Laboratory Techniques
Microbiology techniques are used in research, food, pharmaceutical and environmental laboratories. This course teaches the core methods hands-on, with non-pathogenic organisms and an emphasis on aseptic discipline.
Course overview
Microbiology Laboratory Techniques covers media preparation and sterilisation, isolation of pure cultures from environmental samples, Gram and endospore staining, microscopy and biochemical identification.
You also measure bacterial growth curves, enumerate organisms by serial dilution and plating, and perform antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disc diffusion with reference quality-control strains, interpreting results against published standards.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Prepare and sterilise media and work aseptically
- Isolate and maintain pure cultures
- Perform Gram and endospore staining and microscopy
- Identify isolates with biochemical tests
- Measure growth, enumerate colonies and perform disc-diffusion susceptibility testing
Skills you will practise
Eligibility and prerequisites
Who can apply
- Students and graduates of B.Sc., M.Sc., B.Tech., M.Tech., B.Pharm., M.Pharm. or a PhD programme in biotechnology, microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, life sciences, pharmacy or allied health sciences
- Laboratory staff, research assistants and faculty who want structured bench training
- Participants must be 18 or older and follow the laboratory safety induction on day one
Prerequisites
- Undergraduate microbiology
- Essential Laboratory Skills recommended
Best suited to
- Students of microbiology, biotechnology, food science and pharmacy
- Graduates preparing for QC and microbiology laboratory roles
- Researchers who need structured microbiology training
Module-wise syllabus
5 modules, each with a bench practical performed by every participant.
Topics
- Media types and preparation
- Autoclaving and validation
- Aseptic transfer
Topics
- Streak and spread plates
- Environmental sampling
- Colony morphology
Topics
- Gram staining
- Endospore staining
- Bright-field microscopy
Topics
- Biochemical tests
- Growth curves
- Serial dilution and plate counts
Topics
- Disc diffusion
- Quality-control strains
- Interpretation against published standards
Practical sessions and projects
Practical assessment
Practical assessment
Isolate, characterise and identify an unknown organism and report its susceptibility profile with full records.
Assessed on technique, accuracy, safety and the laboratory record. A pass is required for the certificate.
- Media and sterilisation
Prepare and sterilise media and practise aseptic transfers with sterility checks.
- Isolation and pure culture
Isolate pure cultures from a soil sample and describe colony morphology.
- Staining and microscopy
Stain and image your isolates and reference organisms.
- Identification and growth
Characterise isolates biochemically and measure a growth curve by optical density and plate counts.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility
Perform disc-diffusion testing with reference strains and interpret the zones.
Instruments, techniques and materials
Instruments and equipment
Techniques you will perform
- Aseptic transfer
- Streak and spread plating
- Gram and endospore staining
- Biochemical identification
- Growth curves
- Disc-diffusion testing
Materials
- Risk Group 1 bacteria and reference quality-control strains
- Culture media and biochemical test media
- Antibiotic discs
Core reading
- Cappuccino JG, Welsh CT. Microbiology: A Laboratory Manual. Pearson.
- CLSI M100: Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (current edition), and EUCAST disk diffusion methodology.
Duration, format and fees
- Next cohort
- Dates are sent with your admission offer
- Timetable
- Weekdays, 9:30 to 16:30, at our laboratory
- Payment
- Secure online payment link with your admission offer (UPI, cards, net banking). Instalments on request for fees above ₹15,000.
- Refunds
- See the refund and cancellation policy.
Instructor
The instructor for each cohort is named in your admission offer and on this page when the cohort is announced. Vedicgen instructors are selected for hands-on laboratory experience in the subject they teach, and every course is reviewed by a second subject expert.
Questions about who teaches a cohort? [email protected]
Certificate
Learners who complete the course and pass its practical assessment receive a Vedicgen certificate of completion for Microbiology Laboratory Techniques, issued by Vivofold, stating the bench hours and techniques performed. Each certificate has a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check.
Apply for Microbiology Laboratory Techniques
Apply
Send the form below. It takes about five minutes.
Review
An adviser confirms your fit and format within two working days.
Offer
You receive dates, timetable and a secure payment link.
Onboard
Safety briefing, lab address and joining instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Day one starts with a safety induction covering personal protective equipment, safe handling of reagents and biological material, spill response and waste segregation. All practicals use non-pathogenic material (Risk Group 1 organisms, established cell lines or synthetic templates) and are supervised throughout.
All reagents, kits, consumables, personal protective equipment, the lab manual and the certificate. Travel, accommodation and meals are not included. The laboratory address and joining instructions are sent with your admission letter.
Bench courses run in small groups so that every participant performs every practical personally, with an instructor-to-participant ratio that allows close supervision at the bench.
Yes. Learners who complete the course and pass its assessment receive a Vedicgen certificate of completion, issued by Vivofold. Every certificate carries a unique ID and a QR code that anyone, including an employer or admissions office, can check on the certificate verification page.
Apply with the form on this page. Live and in-person cohorts run through the year; the dates, timetable and joining details of the next cohort are sent with your admission offer and listed on this page once announced. Self-paced enrolment opens as soon as your application is accepted.
Yes. No course runs longer than four weeks, and the length is customisable: choose the standard schedule, an intensive one- to two-week schedule, weekends only, or a custom timetable. Pick your preference on the application form; colleges and teams can book their own dates.
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