An inoculating loop can be used to transfer bacteria. It is sterilised by heating it to red hot in a Bunsen flame, before and after use. To inoculate the agar, lift the lid of the Petri dish and tilt.

Often when inoculating a BAP to observe hemoloysis patterns, investigators will also stab several times through the agar using an inoculating loop. This stab allows for the detection of streptolysin O ...