Luck and individual technique is a variable here. Even those of us who have done it before sometimes have the salt come out of the tube in an unplanned rush. Perhaps we need to modify the procedure or maybe the salt should first be poured onto weighing paper. Each culture tube can be marked several times at equal intervals to aid in sampling and counting the crystals. Approximately 0.5-cm increments work well with our microscope.
Moisture can cause the gelatin capsule caps to stick.
Handle them with dry hands. Some kits have smaller capsules that have proven hard to open. We re switching to larger, easier to open capsules. Fewer mistakes are made when all the experimenters and stations stay together. Advise the experimenters to keep the powder funnel dry.