200224-N-DA693-1051 SAN DIEGO (Feb. 24, 2020) Hospital Corpsman Kevin Zheng, assigned to the Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) microbiology laboratory, streaks a patient sample on an agar plate to prepare it for incubation, Feb. 24, 2020. An agar plate is a Petri dish that contains agar to culture microorganisms, and NMCSD’s microbiology laboratory receives hundreds of patient samples daily for testing from surrounding Naval Branch Health Clinics. NMCSD’s mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality healthcare services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training, and research. NMCSD employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians, and contractors in Southern California to provide patients with world-class care anytime, anywhere. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Greenberg/Released)