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This is a selective medium for the isolation of Actinomyces spp. from clinical specimens. It is based on Fastidious Anaerobe Agar that has been enriched with 7% defibrinated horse blood and made selective by the addition of nalidixic acid to inhibit most aerobes (particularly Gram-negative bacilli) and metronidazole to suppress other anaerobes. -
Bacillius cereus Selective Agar (PEMBA) This is a medium for the selective isolation and enumeration of Bacillus cereus in food samples. It is said to be particularly suitable for the detection of small numbers of Bacillus cereus particularly in the presence of other contaminating organisms. The medium is made selective by the inclusion of Polymixin and Sodium Pyruvate is also present which is said to improve Egg Yolk precipitation and enhance sporulation. As Bacillus cereus is Mannitol Negative the colonies are bluish in colour, due to the presence of the Bromothymol Blue Indicator, with a surrounding precipitate of the same colour due to Lecithinase production (from the Egg Yolk). NB: It should be noted that some Proteus spp. and gram positive cocci may grow on this medium. -
Bacillus Cereus (Mannitol Egg Yolk Polymixin - MYP) Agar Intended for the selective enumeration of Bacillus cereus in food samples the medium uses two reactions (Mannitol fermentation and Lecithinase production) to differentiate Bacillus cereus from other members of the species. As Bacillus cereus is Mannitol Negative the colonies are pink in colour due to the presence of Phenol Red Indicator. Lecithinase production (from the Egg Yolk) is indicated by a white precipitate around the colonies. Polymixin is added as the selective agent to inhibit coliforms. NB: It should be noted that some Proteus spp and gram positive cocci may grow on this medium. -
Baird Parker Agar with 5% Egg Yolk Tellurite Baird Parker Agar is a selective medium for the isolation and presumptive identification of coagulase-positive staphylococci. This medium is used extensively for detecting Staphylococcus aureus in foods, dairy products, and other materials. The medium is made highly selective by the inclusion of Lithium Chloride and Potassium tellurite. The Potassium tellurite inhibits most coliforms and is reduced by staphylococci giving rise to black colonies. Glycine and Sodium Pyruvate are included as growth enhancers while the pyruvate also acts as a neutraliser of toxic peroxides. NB: Any black colonies (with or without the halo) on this medium must be confirmed as Staphylococcus aureus by further tests (e.g. Coagulase Test or Latex Agglutination etc.) -
Bile Aesculin Agar Bile Aesculin Medium is generally used for the differentiation and presumptive identification of Group D streptococci (enterococci). Enterococci hydrolyse aesculin forming, amongst other products, aesculetin which in turn combines with Ferric ammonium citrate producing a dark brown or black complex. The presence of Bile salts in the medium inhibits gram positive organisms other than enterococci. The medium can also be used for the presumptive identification of certain organisms within the Enterobacteriaceae group such as Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., etc. -
A general-purpose medium enriched with 7% Horse Blood, suitable for the isolation of most organisms including many fastidious anaerobes of clinical significance. -
A general purpose medium enriched with 5% Defibrinated Sheep Blood, suitable for the isolation of most organisms including many fastidious anaerobes. -
Brazier's CCEY Agar with 1% Lysed Horse Blood - Blood, Cycloserine, Cefoxitin, 4% Egg Yolk Emulsion Based on Fastidious Anaerobe Agar, Cholic Acid and p-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid are added to enhance the isolation and differentiation of Clostridium difficile from clinical specimens. Cholic Acid promotes spore germination and p- Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid enhances production of p-cresol, a distinctive metabolite of Clostridium difficile. The medium is made selective by the inclusion of Cefoxitin and D-Cycloserine and Egg Yolk emulsion is added to differentiate Clostridium difficile from the Lecithinase producing clostridia. Lysed Blood is also added which optimises the colony fluorescence when cultures are examined under UV light. -
This medium is intended for use in the isolation of Salmonella spp, other than Salmonella typhi. Although it can be used as a primary isolation medium, it is not recommended for this purpouse and is generally used for subculture from selective enrichment media. It should be noted that the medium is highly selective and therefore not suited to the isolation of salmonella from samples where numbers may be low. NB: - It is not recommended that this medium is used for the isolation of Salmonella typhi and Shigella spp. -
Brilliant Green Agar This medium is intended for use in the isolation of Salmonellae other than Salmonella typhi. Although it can be used as a primary isolation medium it is not recommended for this purpose and is generally used for subculture from selective enrichment media. It should be noted that the medium is highly selective and therefore not suited to the isolation of Salmonella from samples where the numbers may be low. NB: It is not recommended that this medium be used for the isolation of Salmonella typhi and Shigella spp. -
This is a selective medium for the isolation of Burkholderia cepacia. The base contains Bile Salts and Crystal Violet as selective agents and Ticarcillin and Polymixin B are added as additional supplements to further improve the selectivity particularly inhibition of most Pseudomonas spp. -
This medium is designed for the selective isolation of Campylobacter spp., particularly C. jejuni and C. coli , which are major causes of gastrointestinal infection. Campylobacter Blood Free Agar CCDA was formulated to allow replacement of blood with a combination of charcoal, ferrous sulphate, and sodium pyruvate. Selectivity is achieved through the addition of broad spectrum cefoperazone and amphotericin B to inhibit fungi. Inoculated plates are incubated at 41.5°C to improve growth of the thermophilic species including C. jejuni and C. coli. Campylobacter Blood Free Agar CCDA is recommended for food testing in compliance with the requirements of ISO 10272- 1:2017(1) . It can also be used for isolation of Campylobacter spp. from clincal specimens such as faeces(2,3). 1. ISO 10272-1:2017. Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs – Horizontal method for detection and enumeration of Campylobacter spp. – Part 1: Detection method. 2. Public Health England. (2014). Investigations of Faecal Specimens for Enteric Pathogens. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations. B 30 Issue 8.1. 3. Public Health England. (2018). Identification of Campylobacter species. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations. ID 23 Issue 3.1. -
PP0130 Campylobacter Blood Free CCDA is designed for the selective isolation of Campylobacter spp., particularly C. jejuni and C. coli, which are major causes of gastrointestinal infection. Campylobacter Blood Free CCDA was described by Bolton et al. and formulated to replace blood with a combination of charcoal, ferrous sulphate, and sodium pyruvate. This product is recommended for the isolation of Campylobacter spp. and complies with the requirements of ISO 10272-1:2017, ISO 10272-2:2017, is tested in accordance with ISO 11133:2014, and is a recommended medium in the UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations for isolation of Campylobacter spp. from clinical specimens such as faeces. -
Campylobacter Selective Agar Preston Supplement This is one of several selective media available for the isolation of Campylobacter spp in clinical, food and environmental laboratories. The medium is enriched with Lysed Horse Blood and made selective by the inclusion of Cefoperazone, to suppress other enteric organisms, and Amphotericin to suppress yeast & fungal growth. -
Campylobacter Selective (Skirrow) Agar This is one of several selective media available for the isolation of Campylobacter spp in clinical, food and environmental laboratories. Based on Columbia Agar enriched with Lysed Horse Blood. Polymyxin B, Trimethoprim & Vancomycin are added as the selective agents. Sodium Thiosulphate, Pyruvic Acid and Ferrous Sulphate are also included to enhance the aerotolerance of Campylobacter spp. NB: This medium should be incubated at 42°C to optimise selectivity. -
Cetrimide Agar is intended primarily for use in the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from pharmaceutical products and is recommended by the United States Pharmacopoeia for this purpose. The medium is made selective by the addition of cetrimide to inhibit the growth of most other organisms while allowing Pseudomonas aeruginosa/ and other Pseudomonas spp. to develop a classical colonial appearance, producing green pigmentation and fluoresce when examined under ultra violet light. -
This is a medium intended for the cultivation and isolation of Bordetella pertussis & Haemophilus spp. The base medium contains Charcoal and is enriched with 10% Horse Blood. It can also be used as a maintenance or transport medium for these organisms. -
A highly nutritious medium used for the isolation and cultivation of fastidious microorganisms, especially Neisseria and Haemophillus species from a variety of clinical specimens. The media is further enriched with Suplex (Polyvitex) that provides vitamins, amino acids, co-enzymes, glucose and other factors which improve the growth of Neisseria and Haemophillus species. -
A highly nutritious medium enriched with Horse Blood, where the blood has been “chocolated” by heating the medium to 60°C. Suitable for the isolation of most pathogens including the most fastidious and is particularly useful for the cultivation of Haemophilus spp. and Neisseria spp. -
Chocolate Agar with 7% Horse Blood & Bacitacin A highly nutritious medium enriched with Horse Blood, where the blood has been ‘chocolated’ by heating the medium to 70°C. Suitable for the isolation of most pathogens including many fastidious organisms the addition of Bacitracin makes it is particularly suitable for the selective isolation of Haemophilus spp. -
CHROMagar™ Candida Plus is the first chromogenic isolation medium for the detection and differentiation of C. auris in addition to other major clinical Candida spp. such as C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata. Candida spp. are yeasts involved in various infections called Candidiasis. These infections can be severe with significant morbidity in nosocomial infections or in immunocompromised patients. Although C. albicans is still the main species involved, the use of antifungal agents has given rise to other species such as C. tropicalis, C. krusei and C. glabrata. In 2016, WHO added C. auris to this list with over 90 % of strains resistant to fluconazole. CHROMagar™ Candida Plus allows for the recognition of minor candida species in a mixed population containing the predominant species, thereby allowing patient specific treatment plans to be formulated at the earliest possible opportunity. Most bacterial species will be inhibited due to the inclusion of the selective mix: C. albicans Green colonies C. tropicalis Metallic blue colonies C. glabrata Mauve to pink colonies C. auris Light blue colonies with blue halo E. coli Inhibited Limitations The final identification must be confirmed by biochemical tests or by mass spectrophotometry (eg MALDI-TOF). These can be done directly from the suspicious colonies observed on the medium. -
CLED Agar Mackey and Sandy’s formulation this medium is popular for Urine Culture in the clinical laboratory. The lack of electrolytes inhibits the spreading of Proteus spp. and Bromothymol Blue indicator allows easy differentiation of Lactose and Non-Lactose fermenting organisms. Cystine is also present to benefit those organisms that have a particular Cystine requirement. Streptococcus pyogenes and many other fastidious organisms that do not require the presence of blood can grow on this medium. -
CLED Agar (Bevis) A modification by Bevis of the original CLED medium of Mackey & Sandys. This formulation uses a double indicator system (Andrade’s (Acid fuchsin) and Bromothymol blue) to improve differentiation of Lactose and Non-lactose fermenting organisms. The lack of Sodium Chloride also prevents the swarming of Proteus spp. -
Colorex 0157 with Cefixime & Tellurite This medium replaces the conventional Sorbitol MacConkey Agar that is reputed for high levels of false positives and the difficulty of colonial interpretation and differentiation. Colorex O157 is a chromogenic medium with a very high specificity (98% according to K.A. Bettelheim, 1998 J.Appl.Microbiol.85:425-428) for E.coli O157. To reduce the level of background flora, the medium is made selective by the addition of Cefixime and Potassium tellurite. Positive colonies exhibit a mauve colouration enabling easy interpretation amongst blue or colourless colonies of other bacteria.
