LIFE SCIENCE

Antibacterial effectiveness
of different hand sanitizers
Investigating antibacterial effectiveness 2

REPORT FORMAT PA

NUMBER SUBJECT PAGE

I Background to the experiment 3

II Aim 3

III Hypothesis 3

IV Materials and apparatus 3

V Brief description of experiment design 4

VI Method 5

Data Collection sheets 7

Results Table 12

Graphic presentation of results 14

 Investigating antibacterial effectiveness 3

PART A STRUCTURE AND DESIGN OF EXPERIMENT

I. Background to the experiment
Bacteria grow everywhere. The rate of bacterial growth depends on existing
conditions at that particular time. Such conditions would include the
availability of nutrients, heat, intensity of light and water.

The purpose of this experiment would be to determine the effectiveness of

different hand sanitizers against bacteria found in the hands of a person.

II. Aim
To investigate whether a commercial sanitizer is an effective inhibitor of
bacterial growth found in the hands of a person; and to determine within a
group of hand sanitizers, which of these is most effective in reducing
bacterial growth in hands.

III. Hypothesis
Exposure of bacteria in hands will result in the reduction of bacterial growth.

IV. Materials and apparatus

4 x petri dishes.
4 x alcohol swabs
1 x thermometer
4 x 100 ml beakers
Denatured alcohol for sterilizing beakers, tweezers, pair of scissors
1 x pair of tweezers
1 x pair of scissors
1 x Sellotape
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V. Brief description of experiment design

The anti-bacterial effectiveness of the three commercial hand sanitizers will
be investigated. A control will also be used to establish a baseline. The
apparatus to be used before carrying out the experiment will be soaked in
denatured alcohol or methylated spirit to ensure that equipment and
material are not contaminated. The petri dishes to be used will contain
nutrient Agar as the medium on which to carry out the experiment,

a. Independent variable.
The petri dishes will represent the independent variable.

b. Dependent variable.
The observed extent of bacterial change will be the dependent
variable.

c. Control
Petri dish number 1 (PD#1) will be the control. The control will be
divided the petri dish which will be inoculated but will not be treated
with a hand sanitizer.

d. Other petri dishes

Petri dish number 2 (PD#2), Petri dish number3 (PD#3) and Petri dish
number 4 (PD#4) will each be inoculated with bacteria from the hands
of a school mate. Thereafter each dish will be treated with a different
brand of sanitizer.

e. Constant variables
Three variables that will be kept constant will be the light intensity, the
humidity factor, and temperature, the latter to be used at room
temperature. Constant because all three conditions will be kept the
same for all three petri dishes (#2 - #4) and therefore affect all the
containers in the same way.
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VI. Method

1. First wash and sterilize all equipment and instruments to be used in

denatured alcohol or methylated spirit to prevent contamination.
2. Wear sterile gloves when carrying out the experiment.
3. Gather the Petri dishes prepared with nutrient bacteria and keep them at
temperatures below 10 in an incubator before use to prevent bacterial
growth. Be careful and not to touch the surface of each Petri dish to
prevent contamination.
4. Record the room temperature each day before the start and at the end
of the experiment.
5. Mark the bottom of each Petri dish to ensure proper sample identification.
The marking would be PD#1, PD#2, PD#3 and PD#4.
6. Code the labels in the record book as follows:
PD#1 - Control – inoculated but non-sterilized sample
PD#2 - Brand A hand sanitizer record brand name
PD#3 - Brand B hand sanitizer record brand name
PD#4 - Brand C hand sanitizer record brand name

7. Cut four strips of tape in equal sizes.

8. Place each strip on the hand of a school mate for 5 minutes.
9. Remove each strip using tweezers and attach it on the agar surface in
each Petri dish.
10. Seal cover of Petri dish #1 (PD#1) with additional tape strips to ensure
that the cover remains in place.
11. Take three clean 25 ml containers and in each introduce 5 ml of a
different brand of hand sanitizer using a sterilized 5 ml syringe.
12. Using a sterilized tweezer place a sterile disc or swab in the respective
marked Petri dishes #2, #3 and #4.
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13. Seal the Petri dishes with tape again to ensure the covers remain in place.
14. Invert these Petri dishes and place them in an incubator.
15. Leave the 4 Petri dishes in an incubator, at room temperature, for 48
hours prior to recording the changes.
16. Leave these for an additional day or two and each day the changes
have to be recorded.
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DATA COLLECTION SHEETS FOR EXPERIMENT

Name of group participants

1 P Jones

2 R Lords

3 TV Joshua

TEACHER’S COMMENTS:
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Day # of experiment: Date…………………………………

Sample description/ nature of sample:

Petri dish #/(Colony #):

Size of colony:
Qualitative observations:

Drawing of colony:

Picture of colony:
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Day # of experiment: Date…………………………………

Sample description/ nature of sample:

Petri dish #/(Colony #):

Size of colony:
Qualitative observations:

Drawing of colony:

Picture of colony:
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Day # of experiment: Date…………………………………

Sample description/ nature of sample:

Petri dish #/(Colony #):

Size of colony:
Qualitative observations:

Drawing of colony:

Picture of colony:
Investigating antibacterial effectiveness 11

Day # of experiment: Date…………………………………

Sample description/ nature of sample:

Petri dish #/(Colony #):

Size of colony:
Qualitative observations:

Drawing of colony:

Picture of colony:
Investigating antibacterial effectiveness 12

RESULTS TABLES

Day 1 record
Dependent Variable
Changes in bacterial colony
Observed changes in Measured size
(X) Independent Variable Change in bacterial change in bacterial
colony colony

Petri dish #1 (Control)

Petri dish #2 (Sanitizer Brand A)

Petri dish #3 (Sanitizer Brand B)

Petri dish #4 (Sanitizer Brand C)

Day 2 record
Dependent Variable
Changes in bacterial colony
Observed changes in Measured size
(X) Independent Variable Change in bacterial change in bacterial
colony colony

Petri dish #1 (Control)

Petri dish #2 (Sanitizer Brand A)

Petri dish #3 (Sanitizer Brand B)

Petri dish #4 (Sanitizer Brand C)

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Day 3 record
Dependent Variable
Changes in bacterial colony
Observed changes in Measured size
(X) Independent Variable Change in bacterial change in bacterial
colony colony

Petri dish #1 (Control)

Petri dish #2 (Sanitizer Brand A)

Petri dish #3 (Sanitizer Brand B)

Petri dish #4 (Sanitizer Brand C)

Day 4 record
Dependent Variable
Changes in bacterial colony
Observed changes in Measured size
(X) Independent Variable Change in bacterial change in bacterial
colony colony

Petri dish #1 (Control)

Petri dish #2 (Sanitizer Brand A)

Petri dish #3 (Sanitizer Brand B)

Petri dish #4 (Sanitizer Brand C)

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