How can you tell if a starter is infected?

[patd]

I was making a starter last night and dropped the unsanitized white labs cap into the mix. I wanted to keep an eye out for it being infected...but don't know what to look for. It's 12 hours in and everything looks good so far, if it got infected what would I be seeing, and how long would it take to show up?

thanks

 

[robertvrabel]

I highly doubt your going to notice an infection 12 hours in... you don't see water left on the counter over night turn into mold . Relax, if your starter is fermenting 99.9% chance your fine.

 

[patd]

I highly doubt your going to notice an infection 12 hours in

That was my primary concern, dumping a potentially infected starter into 5 gallons of innocent wort

 

[pkeeler]

You should be able to smell it, or at least taste it.