"HOW TOMAKE A SPORE SYRINGE"
 
Sterility is the key here. Ideally, there should be no fans blowing or drafts of air in the room you will be working in. You should clean the surface area where you will be working carefully with some rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and make sure that everything you need is on hand.

Materials Needed:

* One spore print
* One empty 10cc or 12cc syringe with a needle
* Shot glass
* Regular drinking glass
* Coffee mug
* Cigarette lighter
* X-Acto knife (or sharp steak knife)
* Microwave oven
 
Several things need to be accomplished. First, you will need to sterilize a shot glass to mix the spore solution in and you will also need to sterilize the syringe that will be holding the solution. We also need some sterile water in which to suspend the spores. The following steps will accomplish all of this.

The first thing you will need to do is to fill a coffee mug with plain tap water and place a shot glass inside the mug. Make sure the shot glass is completely submerged and full of water as well. Place the coffee mug in your microwave oven and bring the water to a full boil. It does not need to be a violent boil, just a regular boil. When done, remove the mug from your microwave. Now remove the shot glass from the mug (caution – it will be hot) and empty the excess water out of it back into the cup.

Sit the shot glass aside and place a drinking glass upside down over it. This will keep any contaminates that might be floating in the air from settling in the shot glass while you wait for it to cool. Meanwhile, attach the needle to the syringe and remove it’s protective shield. Fill the syringe with hot water from the mug by submerging the needle into the water and pulling the syringe plunger back. Eject the water into a sink or another container and repeat this process several times. This will insure the inside of the syringe and needle is sterile from the hot water.

The last time you fill the syringe with hot water, do not empty it. Let it stay inside the syringe until it has cooled to room temperature. Once the water has cooled down it can be used as the sterile water needed for making the spore solution. Try to make sure that nothing touches the needle of the syringe. The mushroom spores will be killed if they come in contact with anything too hot, so you will need to wait until the shot glass and syringe are at room temperature before continuing with the next step. When it is safe to continue (meaning everything has cooled down), use the cigarette lighter to flame sterilize the tip of the X-Acto blade or sharp knife. Let the blade cool (about one-minute) while making sure it does not touch anything. When you are ready, carefully open the spore print and scrape a small amount of spores into the shot glass with the sterilized (and cooled) tip of the knife blade.

A fleck of spores about 1/4" by 1/4" is more than sufficient for a 10cc. spore syringe, but the more spores you use the better chance you will have of being successful (so don’t be too stingy). Squirt about 1 or 2cc’s of water from the syringe into the shot glass and use the needle of the syringe to stir the spores. Stir the clusters of spores until they are well broken up and "dissolved" into the water. Next you should squirt the rest of the water out of the syringe into the shot glass. Pull the water back into the syringe with the plunger, being sure to suck most of the spores in as well. Repeat doing this (emptying and refilling the syringe) a few times to make sure the spores are broken up. Often, it takes several tries (four or five) to get the spores well mixed and inside the syringe. When you are finished you should slide the protective shield back on top of the needle.

You should now have a sterile spore syringe, which will last for up to a year if stored in the refrigerator and at least three months or more if stored at room temperature in a dark place.

ADVANCE to Chapter 11: DRYING & STORAGE