Inoculating loops and needles are tools to safely transfer clinical microbiology samples. The disposable or reusable tools may be used to facilitate uniform slide staining. After the thin devices obtain bacterial samples from colonies growing on media plates, the sample is smeared on a sterile plate for further examination. Straight needles are best suitable for removing specimen of single colonies of microscopic organisms, while loop wires are able to retrieve larger samples. Color coded models make selecting the correct tool easy.