To use an agar plate, a sample from the patient is streaked onto the surface of the agar using a sterile tool like a loop or swab. The plate is then incubated at a specific temperature to allow microbial growth. After incubation, the colonies' morphology, color, and number can provide clues about the type of microorganism. Various types of agar, such as MacConkey agar and blood agar, are used to differentiate between types of bacteria.
