Dehydrated Culture Media

  • Membrane Lauryl Sulphate Agar is used for the enumeration of Escherichia coli and other coliforms found in filter membranes used in water sample testing. The broth base, originally named Membrane Enriched Teepol broth,(1) was updated when Teepol 610 was removed from the formulation and replaced by sodium lauryl sulphate.(2&3) The peptones, yeast extract and lactose act as carbon, nitrogen and vitamin sources in this medium. The phenol red is added as a pH indicator to detect the fermentation of lactose to differentiate the coliforms. Sodium lauryl sulphate is an inhibitory agent. References (1) Burman, N. P., 1967. Development of membrane filter techniques. II. Adaptation to routine and special requirements. Proc. Soc. Wat. Treat. Exam., 16:40 (2) Joint Committee of PHLS and the Standing Committee of Analysis. 1980. J. Hyg. Camb., 85:181 (3) Stanfield, G. and Irving, T. E., 1981. A suitable replacement for Teepol 610 in the selective isolation of coliforms from marine waters and sewage. Water Research. 15:469-474
  • Membrane Lauryl Sulphate Broth is used for the enumeration of Escherichia coli and other coliforms found in filter membranes used in water sample testing. Originally named Membrane Enriched Teepol broth,(1) this recipe was updated when Teepol 610 was removed from the formulation and replaced by sodium lauryl sulphate.(2&3) The peptones, yeast extract and lactose act as carbon, nitrogen and vitamin sources in this medium. The phenol red is added as a pH indicator to detect the fermentation of lactose to differentiate the coliforms. Sodium lauryl sulphate is an inhibitory agent. References (1) Burman, N. P., 1967. Development of membrane filter techniques. II. Adaptation to routine and special requirements. Proc. Soc. Wat. Treat. Exam., 16:40 (2) Joint Committee of PHLS and the Standing Committee of Analysis. 1980. J. Hyg. Camb., 85:181 (3) Stanfield, G. and Irving, T. E., 1981. A suitable replacement for Teepol 610 in the selective isolation of coliforms from marine waters and sewage. Water Research. 15:469-47
  • Originally intended for enumeration of coliforms in water samples, a medium containing glutamic acid was devised by Folpmers and further developed by Gray as a potential replacement for MacConkey Broth. Later, Gray modified the medium to incorporate a variety of minerals promoting improved lactose fermentation by coliforms and Escherichia coli. Minerals Modified Glutamate Medium is suitable for the enrichment of low levels of coliforms and recovery of chlorine-damaged bacteria.

    Minerals Modified Glutamate Medium is recommended by the Standing Committee of Analysts and International Organization for Standardization. It is tested in accordance with ISO 11133:2014.

  • Mueller Hinton agar is used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the disk diffusion method as described by Bauer-Kirby. It has been approved as the definitive medium for this purpose by the European Committee on Anitmicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). This formulation conforms to Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Beef extract and acid hydrolysate of casein provides the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins in the medium. Starch absorbs any toxic metabolites produced. The medium contains low levels of thymidine and thymine and controlled levels of calcium and magnesium ions. The base medium can be supplemented with blood (5 – 10%). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) may be added at 20 mg/L to make the medium suitable for use with more fastidious organisms such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae (LS0005). Related Supplements : LS0005 NAD Supplement (20mgs/L), Defibrinated Horse Blood
  • Approved by the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI formerly known as the NCCLS) in USA this medium can be considered as an alternative to Iso-Sensitest Broth for antimicrobial sensitivity testing and MIC determinations by tube dilution methods. (1&2) Beef extract and acid hydrolysate of casein provides the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins in the medium. Starch absorbs any toxic metabolites produced. References (1) Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. 2006. Performance standards for antimicrobial disk susceptibility tests. Approved standard M2-A9. CLSI, Wayne, PA. (2) MacFaddin, J. 1985. Media for isolation cultivation, identification maintenance of medical bacteria. Williams & Williams, Baltimore.
  • 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 spp. 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 (40 mg/l) improves the inhibition of Proteus spp. Immediately prior to use it is necessary to add 20 ml/l of 2% iodine/iodide solution (BM0946). 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. Related Supplements : LS0024 Novobiocin Supplement (20mgs/L)
  • Mycological agar is a selective medium for the isolation of pathogenic fungi, particularly dermatophytes, from clinical specimens. Enzymatic digest of soybean meal provides the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Glucose is an energy source for the metabolism of fungi. The addition of chloramphenicol further reduces the risk of bacterial contamination when processing material that may be heavily contaminated with coliforms. Cycloheximide should also be added (0.4g/L) to suppress the growth of commensal yeasts and saprophytic fungi.  
  • KM0141

    Nutrient Agar

    A basic general-purpose medium suitable for use in the cultivation of the less fastidious organisms particularly those that do not require the addition of blood or other enrichment. When used to prepare agar slopes or agar butts, the medium can be used to maintain control organisms. The peptone provides the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Sodium chloride maintains osmotic balance.  
  • A general-purpose medium for the cultivation of organisms that are less fastidious in their nutritional requirements. The beef extract, peptone and yeast extract act as carbon, nitrogen and vitamin sources in this medium. Sodium chloride maintains osmotic balance.  
  • Nutrient Broth No.2 is used for the cultivation of fastidious pathogens and other microorganisms. This general use medium, rich in nutrients, allows the growth of bacteria when there is a low level of cells. The medium is particularly suitable as a secondary growth medium for staphylococci to be tested for coagulase production and also be used for sterility testing of aerobic organisms. Beef extract and peptone provide the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Sodium chloride maintains osmotic balance.  
  • O-F Medium is used for the determination of oxidative and fermentative metabolism of carbohydrates by Gram-negative bacilli (1). This is on the basis of the acid reaction in either the open or closed system that has been covered with sterile paraffin oil. Changes in the covered agar are considered to be due to true fermentation, while changes in the open tubes are due to the oxidative utilization of the carbohydrate present. O-F Base Medium requires the addition of the specific carbohydrate being investigated. The enzymatic digest of casein provides the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins in the media. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance. Di-potassium hydrogen phosphate acts as a buffer and bromothymol blue is a pH indicator. The agar is a solidifying agent. Reference (1) Hugh, R. and Leifson, E.J. 1953. Bacteriol. 66:24-26.
  • Palcam agar is a selective differential medium for the isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from food, clinical and environmental specimens. The Columbia peptone mix and starch provide the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Glucose is a fermentable carbohydrate. Differentiation of Listeria spp. from enterococci and staphylococci occurs through aesculin hydrolysis and mannitol fermentation. Listeria monocytogenes will hydrolyse aesculin and the associated reaction with the ferric ammonium citrate gives rise to a brown/black precipitate around the colonies. Listeria spp. do not however ferment mannitol. Mannitol fermentation is seen through a colour change of the colony or the area around the colony from red to yellow due to the production of acidic end products. Phenol red is the pH indicator in the medium. Lithium chloride is included to inhibit enterococci. The associated Palcam selective supplement, LS0038, contains polymyxin B, acriflavine and ceftazidime to inhibit other Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms that may be present in specimens. Related Supplements : LS0038 PALCAM Selective Supplement
  • Pasteurella Agar Base is an non-selective medium capable of supporting the growth of Pasteurella spp. Pasteurella spp.are spherical, ovoid or rod-shaped cells 0.3-1.0μm in diameter and 1.0-2.0μm in length. Cells are Gram negative, and occur singly, or in pairs or short chains. Bipolar staining may be seen and capsules may be present. All species are non-motile, and are facultatively anaerobic.(1) With further enrichment using 5-10% blood and selective antimicrobials, most Pasteurella spp. can be isolated. There is no haemolysis on blood agar for Pasteurella spp. and the organism will not regularly exhibit satellitism around colonies of Staphylococcus spp. The peptones act as carbon, nitrogen and vitamin sources in this medium. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance and the agar is a solidifying agent. The medium is made selective through the addition of LS0057, Pasteurella agar selective supplement. REFERENCE (1) Standards Unit, Microbiology Services, PHE. 1995. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations. Identification of Pasteurella species and Morphologically Similar Organisms. 3, 1-28.
  • KM0149

    Peptone Water

    Peptone water is a general-purpose medium that supports thecultivation of non-fastidious organisms. This non-selective medium can be used a basal medium for biochemical tests such as carbohydrate fermentation and production of indole. Tryptone and peptone act as sources of carbon, nitrogen and vitamins in this medium and sodium chloride maintains osmotic balance.  
  • Perfringens Agar Base is a base medium that allows the enumeration of Clostridium perfringens from food samples. As a base medium, Perfringens Agar Base can have several supplementary and selective agents added to increase selectivity. The addition of Eye Yolk Emulsion (BM0140) allows the detection of lecithinase activity as precipitates are formed by C. perfringens. The addition of D-cycloserine (LS0023) can be used to inhibit other facultative anaerobes, as used in Tryptose-Sulphite-Cycloserine (TSC) agar. (1&2) Alternately, kanamycin and polymyxin B (LS0025) can be used to inhibit other coliforms generally found in food samples, as used in Shahidi-Ferguson Perfringens (SFP) agar.(3) The tryptose and soy peptone provide the required nitrogen, carbon and minerals. Yeast extract provide the essential vitamins, including the vitamin B group, needed for growth. The ferric ammonium citrate and sodium metabisulphite allows the reduction of sulphites to hydrogen sulphide by C. perfringens, which produces black colonies. References (1) ISO- 7937:2004. Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs- Horizontal method for the enumeration of Clostridium perfringens - Colony count technique (2) Harmon, S.M., Kauttar, D.A. and Peeler, J.T. 1971. Improved Medium for Enumeration of Clostridium perfringens. Appl. Microbiol. 22:688-692. (3) Shahidi S. A. and Ferguson A. R. 1971 New Quantitative, Qualitative, and Confirmatory Media for Rapid Analysis of Food for Clostridium perfringens. Appl. Microbiol. 21:500-506
  • Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) is a buffer solution used in biological research. It is a water-based salt solution containing sodium phosphate, sodium chloride and, in some formulations, it contains potassium chloride and potassium phosphate. The osmolality and ion concentrations of the solutions match those of the human body (isotonic) and are non-toxic to most cells. This balanced salt solution is issued to meet the requirements of those tissue culture workers who use the Dulbecco Solution with and without calcium and magnesium.
  • Plate Count Agar is formulated to the A.P.H.A. specification developed by Buchbinder et al. This medium is intended for use in food, dairy and water bacteriology to perform Total Viable Counts. Tryptone and yeast extract provide the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Glucose is a fermentable carbohydrate.  
  • Potato dextrose agar 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. This medium meets the requirements of the Harmonised USP/EP/JP.(1,2&3) REFERENCES (1) United States Pharmacopeial Convention. 2007. The United States pharmacopeia, 31st ed., Amended Chapters 61, 62, 111. The United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Rockville, MD. (2) Directorate for the Quality of Medicines of the Council of Europe (EDQM). 2007. The European Pharmacopoeia, Amended Chapters 2.6.12, 2.6.13, 5.1.4, Council of Europe, 67075 Strasbourg Cedex, France. (3) Japanese Pharmacopoeia. 2007. Society of Japanese Pharmacopoeia. Amended Chapters 35.1, 35.2, 7. The Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare.
  • Primary Membrane Lactose Glucuronide Agar (mLGA) is used for the differentiation and enumeration of Escherichia coli and other coliforms through a single membrane filtration technique. The peptone and yeast extract provide the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins. Sodium pyruvate protects injured cells enhancing recovery and growth of coliforms. Sodium lauryl sulphate is a selective agent that inhibits Gram-positive organisms. Lactose is a fermentable carbohydrate and phenol red is a pH indicator. Lactose fermentation will result in yellow colonies. X-glucuronide is a chromogenic substrate which can be cleaved by the enzyme ß-glucuronidase present in E. coli. This results in a blue colony, but in combination with lactose fermentations colonies will appear green. NB: Prepared plates stored at 2–8°C may show formation of surface crystals which will disappear when plates are warmed to >20°C Related Supplements :
  • Recent developments in culture media have given rise to the use of chromogenic substrates as a means of differentiating bacteria particularly among the coliform group of organisms. This is one such medium and has been developed with the aim of simplifying the differentiation and presumptive identification of the main organisms usually found in Urinary Tract Infections (UTI). The peptone is the source of the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins. Based on the traditional CLED medium, to prevent the swarming of Proteus spp., two chromogens are present in the medium. One allows the detection of enterococci giving rise to blue colonies whilst the second results in purple colonies of E. coli. Phenylalanine and tryptophan are also included as indicators of tryptophan deaminase activity producing brown colonies of Proteus spp. Related Supplements : SHS500 Sterile Horse Serum 500ml
  • This is a selective medium for the isolation of Pseudomonas spp. primarily in food, water and environmental samples. Pseudomonas agar base is on Kings A medium which uses magnesium and potassium salts to enhance pigment production. The gelatine peptone and acid hydrolysed casein acts as a nitrogen, vitamins, and carbon source. Magnesium chloride and potassium sulphate promotes production of pyocyanin. The medium can be made selective for P. aeruginosa by the addition of Pseudomonas CN Supplement (LS0006). Alternatively, the medium can be made selective for Pseudomonas spp. generally by the addition of Pseudomonas CFC Selective Supplement (LS0026). The presence of blue/green or brown pigmentation or fluorescence is indicative of presumptive Pseudomonas spp. It should be noted however that further testing must be carried out to confirm the full identity of the organism.
  • KM0082

    R2A Agar

    R2A agar is used for the enumeration and cultivation of bacteria from drinking water. R2A agar developed by Reasoner and Geldreich is a low nutrient medium that can used in pour plate, spread plate, and membrane filtration methods for heterotrophic plate counts. In combination with a lower incubation temperature and longer incubation period R2A agar stimulates the growth of stressed and chlorine-tolerant bacteria. Traditionally nutritionally rich media have been used for this purpose but these media support the growth of fast-growing bacteria and may suppress slow growing or stressed bacteria found in treated water. Enzymatic digest of casein, proteose peptone, acid hydrolysate of casein and yeast extract provide the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins. Glucose is a fermentable carbohydrate. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate is a buffering agent. Magnesium sulphate is a source of divalent cations and sulphate. Starch and sodium pyruvate aid in the recovery of stressed organisms.  
  • Rappaport-Vassiliadis (MSRV) Medium Semi-Solid is a modification of Rappaport-Vassiliadis Soy Broth for detecting motile Salmonella spp. in faeces and food products.[1] The original research on MSRV Medium revealed a semi-solid could be used as a rapid and sensitive test for isolating motile Salmonella spp. from food products following pre-enrichment or selective enrichment.[2] The semi-solid medium allows motility to be detected as halos of turbid growth around the original point of inoculation. The peptones are to provide vitamins, nutrients and nitrogen to encourage growth of Salmonella spp. The salt maintains the osmotic balance and potassium dihydrogen phosphate is a buffer for stabilising the pH of the medium. Malachite green is included as a selective agent that inhibits Gram-positive organisms and some Gram-negative organisms. References (1) ISO 6579-1:2017. Microbiology of the food chain – Horizontal method for the detection, enumeration and serotyping of Salmonella – Part 1: Detection of Salmonella spp. (2) De Smedt J.M., Bolderdikj R., Rappold H. and Lautenschlaeger D. 1986. Rapid Salmonella Detection in Foods by Motility Enrichment on a Modified Semi-Solid Rappaport-Vassiliadis Medium. J. Food Prot. 49:510-514
  • Rappaport-Vassiliadis Soya Broth is used for the enrichment and selective isolation of Salmonella spp. This medium is a modification of the original formulation by Rappaport et al. and has been formulated to exploit the full characteristics of Salmonella spp. These characteristics include the ability to survive at relatively high osmotic pressure, to multiply at low pH values and greater resistance to malachite green. This formulation also has the correct amount of magnesium chloride as previous formulations did not take into account the volume of displacement caused by dissolving large amounts of magnesium chloride in water. This formulation has been shown to be superior to tetrathionate broth and selenite broth for the isolation of Salmonella spp. from meat products. Soya peptone provides the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Potassium dihydrogen phosphate and di-potassium hydrogen phosphate act as buffers. Magnesium chloride raises the osmotic pressure in the medium. Malachite green is an inhibitory substance. NB: This formulation is very hygroscopic and will produce a slight exothermic reaction when mixed with water.