Bergmann's Plating Techniques - In this widely used technique, cells are suspended in a liquid medium at a cell density that is twice the desired density in the plate. Sterilized agar (Ca. 1%) medium is kept melted in a water bath at 35°C. Equal volumes of the liquid and agar media are mixed thoroughly and quickly spread in Ca. I mm thick layer in a Petri dish.

The cells remain embedded in the soft agar medium, are observable under a microscope, and when macroscopic colonies develop they are isolated and cultured separately.