Thiosulphate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS) agar is a selective medium used in microbiology laboratories to isolate Vibrio spp. The formulation was developed by Kobayashi et al. which was modified from Nakanishi’s formulation. The yeast extract and peptone are the source of the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins. TCBS agar contains high concentrations of sodium thiosulphate, sodium citrate and ox bile to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive organisms and suppress coliforms. Sucrose is included as a fermentable carbohydrate for the metabolism of Vibrio spp. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance in the medium. Sodium thiosulphate also serves as a sulphur source and, in combination with ferric citrate, detects hydrogen
sulphide production. Thymol blue and bromothymol blue are included as indicators of pH changes.
Thiosulphate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS) agar is a selective medium used in microbiology laboratories to isolate Vibrio spp. The formulation was developed by Kobayashi et al. which was modified from Nakanishi’s formulation. The yeast extract and peptone are the source of the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins. TCBS agar contains high concentrations of sodium thiosulphate, sodium citrate and ox bile to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive organisms and suppress coliforms. Sucrose is included as a fermentable carbohydrate for the metabolism of Vibrio spp. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance in the medium. Sodium thiosulphate also serves as a sulphur source and, in combination with ferric citrate, detects hydrogen sulphide production. Thymol blue and bromothymol blue are included as indicators of pH changes.
