Dehydrated Culture Media

  • KM0053

    DNase Agar

    DNase agar is used primarily in clinical laboratories to differentiate pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus from other staphylococci based on deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity. The tryptone provides the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance. The addition of DNA to the base medium provides a simple method to check for DNase activity. Following incubation of the inoculated medium, the surface of the medium is flooded with a small quantity of 1M hydrochloric acid to precipitate the DNA. This results in the medium turning opaque. Organisms that can produce sufficient quantity of a DNase enzyme will hydrolyse the DNA resulting in a clear area around the colonies. Whereas DNase negative organisms will not produce clearing. NB: As with most tests of this type a positive result should not be taken in isolation and other appropriate tests, e.g. coagulase test, latex agglutination etc., should be carried out.  
  • DNase agar is used primarily in clinical laboratories to differentiate pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus from other staphylococci based on deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity. The tryptone provides the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance. The addition of DNA to the base medium provides a simple method to check for DNase activity. The methyl green fades into a colourless compound if the DNA in the medium is depolymerised. Organisms that can produce sufficient quantity of a DNase enzyme will hydrolyse the DNA resulting in a clear area around the colonies. Whereas DNase negative organisms will not produce clearing. NB: As with most tests of this type a positive result should not be taken in isolation and other appropriate tests, e.g. coagulase test, latex agglutination etc., should be carried out.  
  • Edwardsiella ictaluri medium is a selective medium for the isolation of Edwardsiella spp. based on the formulation by Shotts et al. (1) Edwardsiella spp. may be differentiated from other microorganisms on this medium due to its colony morphology. The peptones provide the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance. Colistin and bile salts are selective agents to inhibit most Gram-negative and Gram- positive organisms. Mannitol is a fermentable carbohydrate and bromthymol blue is a pH indicator. Phenylalanine and ferric citrate are used to detect phenylalanine deaminase activity in Proteus spp. Agar is a solidifying agent. Shotts et al. (1) noted Proteus spp. swarming can overgrow on a mixed cultured sample. Therefore, a selective supplement (LS0021) may be added to the medium to restrict Proteus spp. swarming
  • E.E. Broth is recommended as an enrichment medium when examining food and feedstuffs for Enterobacteriaceae. It is a modification of Brilliant Green Bile Broth, with an improved buffering capacity to encourage early growth and prevent autosterilization. E.E. Broth uses glucose instead of lactose to make the medium a test for all enterobacteria including non-lactose fermenting organisms. This formulation complies with the Harmonized USP/EP/JP. Nitrogen is supplied by the gelatin peptone whilst glucose serves as the fermentable carbohydrate source. Oxbile and brilliant green are the selective agents helping to suppress Gram-positive non- target organisms. Auto sterilisation is prevented through the buffer system composed of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and disodium hydrogen phosphate.
  • Eosin Methylene Blue agar (EMB) is a selective medium primarily for the isolation of coliforms from clinical, food and environmental samples. This is the modified formulation of EMB proposed by Levine with a higher concentration of lactose and the sucrose omitted. The peptone provides the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Lactose is a fermentable carbohydrate and di-potassium phosphate is a buffer. Eosin Y and methylene blue are indicators. Methylene blue is also a selective agent. During strong acidic conditions, the dyes impart a metallic sheen to certain lactose fermenters, such as Escherichia coli.  
  • Fastidious Anaerobe Agar is intended as a primary isolation medium capable of supporting most clinically significant anaerobes. The formulation is complex and includes detoxification agents (starch and sodium bicarbonate), growth enhancing agents (L-Cysteine, arginine, vitamin K, sodium succinate, glucose and pyrophosphate), as well as haemin to encourage pigment production in Bacteroides melaninogenicus. The peptone is the source of the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins. Glucose also acts as a carbon source and sodium pyruvate as an energy source. Sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance in the medium. Sodium pyrophosphate acts as a buffering agent and sodium succinate improves the growth of organisms such Bacteroides spp. Supplementation of the base medium with blood (5 - 10%) will provide additional growth factors for the more fastidious microorganisms, and aids in determining any haemolytic reactions. Related Supplements : LS0015 Actinomycete Selective Supplement, LS0017 Neomycin Selective Supplement, LS0022 Clostridium difficile Selective Supplement, LS0023 Clostridium perfringens Selective Supplement, BM0140 Egg Yolk Emulsion
  • This medium is for the growth of fastidious anaerobes, particularly Bacteroides spp. Fastidious anaerobe broth is also suitable for anaerobic blood culture. The peptone and yeast extract provides the required carbon, nitrogen and vitamins. Haemin, vitamin k and L-cysteine HCl are growth factors required by some anaerobes. Sodium thioglycollate and L-cysteine HCl reduce the Eh of the medium and the agar helps maintain the Eh. Resazurin is a redox indicator and sodium chloride maintains the osmotic balance. NB: For best results it is recommended that the medium be heated in a boiling water bath, with the cap loosened, and then allowed to cool, with the cap tightened, immediately before use. The cap must be replaced on the container immediately after inoculation.  
  • Half-Fraser broth is a selective enrichment broth for the identification and isolation of Listeria spp., primarily from food and environmental samples. The antibiotics, nalidixic acid and acriflavine, are already included in the formulation so only ferric ammonium citrate (LS5004) need be added to make the complete Half-Fraser broth. The peptones provide carbon, nitrogen and vitamins, sodium chloride provides osmotic balance and the phosphate buffer system maintains pH. Lithium chloride inhibits enterococci and the antibiotics make the medium highly selective. Listeria spp. hydrolyse aesculin to aesculetin which forms a confirmatory dark brown or black complex with Fe3+ ions.