Food / Water / Environmental

  • de Man, Rogosa & Sharpe (MRS) Agar M.R.S. Agar is intended for the cultivation and enumeration of Lactobacillus spp from a variety of sources and can be used as an alternative to Orange Serum Agar for that purpose. Magnesium Sulphate, Manganese Sulphate, Sodium Acetate and Tween are included as growth supplements. The medium can be made more specific for lactobacilli generally by lowering the pH to between 5.0 and 5.5. This has the effect of inhibiting most streptococci that may otherwise grow on the medium and can be readily confused with lactobacilli.
  • This is a solution of novobiocin used as the selective agent in Modified Semi Solid Rappaport Vassiliadis Medium (BM4031) for the detection of motile Salmonella spp.
  • This is a selective enrichment broth for the isolation of Salmonella spp. primarily from food and food product samples and conforms to the requirements ISO 6579:2002. It can however be used in other areas including clinical and environmental specimens. Salmonella reduce Tetrathionate and will proliferate in the medium whilst most other enteric organisms are inhibited. Unlike the older traditional Tetrathionate Broth the addition of Novobiocin (40mg/L) improves the inhibition of Proteus spp. Immediately prior to use it is necessary to add 200µl of 2% Iodine/Iodide Solution (BM0946 - Supplied with the medium). Once the Iodine/Iodide Solution has been added the medium should be used immediately and cannot be stored for future use. NB: As this is an opaque medium, the turbidity of the broth alone cannot be used as an indication of growth.
  • This is a selective enrichment broth for the isolation of Salmonellae spp. primarily from food and food product samples and conforms to the requirements as described in ISO 6579:2002. It can however be used in other areas including for clinical and environmental specimens. Salmonella reduce Tetrathionate and will proliferate in the medium whilst most other enteric organisms are inhibited. Unlike the older traditional Tetrathionate Broth the addition of Novobiocin (40mg/L) improves the inhibition of Proteus spp. This complete medium already includes the 2% Iodine solution that is traditionally added immediately before use. NB:  As this is an opaque medium turbidity cannot be used as an indication of growth.
  • This is a general-purpose neutralising diluent used particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. Lecithin, L-histidine and Tween 80 are present to inactivate surface disinfectants such as quaternary ammonium compounds, phenols, aldehydes (including formaldehyde), hexachlorophene and ethanol. The diluent may be used in sampling surfaces and equipment (including endoscopes) to detect the presence of surviving microorganisms after disinfection. The presence of the surfactant Tween 80 also helps release adherent organisms from surfaces being tested.
  • This is a non-nutrient medium based on Page’s Amoeba Saline, a buffered salt solution, solidified with 1.5% Agar.
  • BM0540

    Nutrient Agar

    A general purpose medium for the cultivation of organisms that are less fastidious in their nutritional requirements.  This particular formulation has additional 0.2% Agar added to provide for a firmer medium without loss of efficacy. Generally used to maintain cultures or to check the purity of subcultures from isolation media.
  • A general-purpose medium for the cultivation of organisms that are less fastidious in their nutritional requirements.
  • Based on Nutrient Broth with an additional 6.5% Sodium Chloride (Total Sodium Chloride content = 7%) this medium is suitable for use in the investigation of outbreaks involving Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA. The additional Sodium Chloride inhibits most other organisms allowing the staphylococci to multiply freely even if present in small numbers. The medium is generally used as an enrichment medium in conjunction with subculture onto selective solid media.
  • BM0300

    Peptone Water

    A general-purpose medium that can be used as a base for carbohydrate fermentation media. It has a high level of Tryptone and is therefore also suitable for use in Indole testing.
  • This is one of the large group of media, affectionately known as ‘Peptone Water Sugars’, that are generally used in the screening and/or identification of organisms particularly the enterobacteriacae. A positive fermentation of the substrate is clearly indicated by the medium turning pink due to the inclusion Andrade’s Indicator.
  • This is a base medium to which can be added selective supplements of choice for the presumptive identification and enumeration of Clostridium perfringens in food products using poured plate techniques. Sodium metabisulphite and Ferric ammonium citrate are included in the base and together provide an indicator of sulphite reaction by Clostridium perfringens, which produces black colonies on the medium.  It is recommended that this medium be used with an overlay otherwise cultures may not grow as black colonies. NB: This is a base medium only and contains no selective supplements.
  • Based on the formulation of Dulbecco Solution ‘A’ this balanced salt solution is intended for use primarily in Tissue Culture techniques. It can be used either on its own or with the addition of Calcium and Magnesium salts (Dulbecco Solution B).
  • Originally intended for use in surface counting and pour plating techniques this medium can be used as a general purpose medium for the cultivation of most organisms particularly those that are less fastidious in their nutritional requirements. Can also be used as a maintenance medium for stock cultures.
  • This medium is recommended for the detection and enumeration of yeasts and moulds in food and dairy products. It can also be used for the cultivation of fungi although with the prolonged incubation necessary cultures may become overgrown by bacteria. The low pH (5.6) suppresses the growth of most bacteria and the low mineral content ensures good pigment production by fungi where appropriate.
  • BM0274

    R2A Agar

    Traditionally, standard methods for enumeration of heterotrophic bacteria in water have used nutritionally rich media with incubation at 35°C. This may represent only a small percentage of bacteria present in the sample. R2A agar is a nutritionally reduced medium which, when combined with incubation at lower temperatures for longer time periods, results in enhanced recovery of stressed and chlorine damaged organisms from treated waters resulting in higher more realistic bacterial counts.