What are the challenges of performing the streak plate procedure?

There are several challenges when performing the streak plate procedure. One challenge is the risk of contamination, as any contamination from the environment may adversely impact the results. This can occur particularly when the lid of the petri dish is opened. Additionally, inaccurate streak patterns may cause a tearing of the agar surface. This procedure is also time-consuming and an inoculating loop is required for streaking. Additionally, this method requires having prepared solid media beforehand. This means either having prior knowledge about possible microorganisms in the sample or having different types of media ready for use. Another challenge is if the sample size is too big with a high number of viable microorganisms, the streak plate method may not be suitable. Using a heavy inoculum could lead to issues in isolating distinct colonies following the incubation period.