<![CDATA[Microbial isolation is a fundamental step in microbiological analysis that is widely applied in the fields of medicine, food, cosmetics, and the environment. This study was conducted using a narrative review approach by critically examining fourteen scientific articles published in reputable national journals between 2018 and 2025. The methods reviewed include streak plate, pour plate, spread plate, serial dilution, surface sterilization, and cultivation on selective media such as PDA, SDA, MRSA, CMC Agar, and Pikovskaya. The review results indicate that contamination is a major obstacle in the isolation process, most extreme seen in the total failure of microalgae isolation. Endophytic isolates from matoa leaves and leilem leaves showed significant antimicrobial activity, lactic acid bacteria from traditional fish fermentation have the potential as probiotics, and cellulolytic and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria have applications in environmental biotechnology. Morphological identification still dominates but is insufficient for definitive taxonomic determination so that molecular confirmation is essential. This study concludes that there is no universal isolation method; Method selection must be context-specific, protocols must be standardized, and molecular identification must be integrated as a gold standard.]]>
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