Clinical / Veterinary

  • Side 1: Primary UTI Chromogenic Agar This is a chromogenic medium based on CLED that has been developed to allow differentiation and presumptive identification of organisms typically found in urinary tract infections. Reduced electrolyte concentration prevents swarming of Proteus spp. A sophisticated binary chromogenic system and supplementation with tryptophan allows differentiation of enterococci (turquoise colonies), Proteus spp (clear colonies with a brown halo), Enterobacter spp (metallic blue colonies), staphylococci (white colonies), and E. coli (purple colonies). Side 2: Columbia Agar w 7% Defibrinated Horse Blood & CNA This is a selective medium for the isolation of Staphylococcus/ spp and Streptococcus spp. It is based on Columbia Agar enriched with defibrinated horse blood which promotes good colony appearance, pigment production and excellent haemolysis from beta-haemolytic streptococci. The medium is made selective by the inclusion of colistin and nalidixic acid to suppress growth of the majority of Gram-negative bacteria.
  • This is a chromogenic medium based on CLED that has been developed to allow differentiation and presumptive identification of organisms typically found in urinary tract infections. Reduced electrolyte concentration prevents swarming of Proteus spp. A sophisticated binary chromogenic system and supplementation with tryptophan allows differentiation of Enterococcus spp. (turquoise colonies), Proteus spp. (clear colonies with a brown halo), Enterobacter spp. (metallic blue colonies), Staphylococcus spp. (white colonies), and E. coli (purple colonies).
  • 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. 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. This media is an opaque version to aid differentiation and presumptive identification of the bacteria isolated.
  • This is a medium for the isolation and identification of Group B streptococci. The principal of the medium is based on the ability of group B streptococci to produce unique orange/red pigmented colonies when incubated anaerobically, particularly on media containing starch products. This medium is non-selective so other organisms will grow on this medium but they do not produce the characteristic pigment.
  • Pseudomonas Agar Base with 1% Glycerol, Cephalothin, Fucidin & Cetrimide (CFC) This is a selective medium for the isolation of Pseudomonas spp primarily in food, water and environmental samples. The medium uses Magnesium and Potassium salts to enhance pigment production and is made selective by the addition of CFC supplement. 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.
  • Pseudomonas Agar Base with 1% Glycerol & CN Supplement A selective medium for the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa the medium is made selective by the inclusion of Cetrimide and Naladixic Acid (CN) supplement to significantly reduce the enteric organisms particularly Proteus and Klebsiella spp. Magnesium and Potassium salts are included to enhance the production of the pigments pyocyanin and fluorescein.
  • RPMI Medium for E-Test RPMI Medium is recommended for use in anti-fungal susceptibility testing of yeasts from clinical isolates using the E-Test method. The medium is based on a simple Glucose Agar with added RPMI-1640 Medium (without Sodium Bicarbonate & Phenol Red), which supplies the necessary vitamins and amino-acids, and MOPS (3-(Morpholino)propanesulfonic Acid) Buffer to maintain the medium pH during incubation.
  • Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with Chloramphenicol (0.5g/L) is a selective media for the isolation of yeasts and fungi suitable for use in all areas of mycology. Sabouraud dextrose agar is a modification of a medium originally described by Sabouraud.(1) The tryptone and meat peptone provides the required nitrogen, carbon and vitamins. The high concentration of dextrose is included as an energy source. Due to the higher pH of the medium, an increased concentration of chloramphenicol is included to improve the selectivity of the media and inhibit a range of Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria. 1. Sabouraud, R. 1892. Ann. Dermatol. Syphilol. 3:1061.
  • This is one of several media available for the selective isolation of yeasts and fungi suitable for use in all areas of Mycology. The low pH (5.6) of the medium is inhibitory to most bacteria and many diagnostic features such as spores and pigmentation are well developed on this medium. NB: This is a basic medium only and contains no additional supplements.
  • Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with Chloramphenicol (50mg/L) A selective medium for the isolation of yeasts and fungi, Sabouraud Dextrose Agar is suitable for use in all areas of Mycology. The low pH of the medium inhibits most bacteria, however in this formulation Chloramphenicol (50mg/L) is added to further reduce the risk when processing material that may be heavily contaminated particularly with coliforms.
  • Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with Chloramphenicol (50mg/L) & Cyclohexamide (Actidione) (300mg/L) A selective medium for the isolation of fungi, Sabouraud Dextrose Agar is suitable for use in all areas of Mycology. The low pH of the medium inhibits most bacteria however in this formulation Chloramphenicol (50mg/L) is added to further reduce the risk when processing material that may be heavily contaminated particularly with coliforms. Cycloheximide is also added to suppress the growth of yeasts and saprophytic fungi.
  • This is a differential medium for the isolation of Escherichia coli 0157:H7. It differs from other MacConkey media in that lactose has been replaced by sorbitol. As Escherichia coli 0157:H7 does not ferment sorbitol, it produces pale translucent colonies whereas most other strains of Escherichia coli do ferment sorbitol and produce pink colonies.
  • Sorbitol MacConkey with Cefixime & Tellurite (CT-Smac) This is a selective differential medium for the isolation of Escherichia coli 0157:H7. It differs from other MacConkey medium in that Lactose has been replaced by Sorbitol. As Escherichia coli 0157:H7 does not ferment Sorbitol it produces pale translucent colonies whereas most other strains of Escherichia coli are Sorbitol positive and produce pink colonies. The medium is made more selective by the addition of the antimicrobial Cefixime and Potassium Tellurite.
  • Thiosulphate Citrate Bile Salts Sucrose (TCBS) Agar TCBS is a selective isolation medium for culture of pathogenic Vibrio spp. from clinical samples. The formulation was developed by Kobayashi, Enomoto, Skazaki and Kuwahara. This medium inhibits most enterobacteriacae for at least 24 hours. For the isolation of Vibrio spp. other than V.cholerae in environmental bacteriology, it is advisable to incubate at the lower temperature range of 20°C – 30°C. NB - It is not recommended to perform an oxidase test on any presumptive positive isolates directly from TCBS medium.
  • This is a medium to detect Thermo-Stable-Nuclease from Staphylococcus aureus after heat inactivation of the organism. After boiling and centrifugation the supernatant is placed in a well in the plate and incubated for 4 hours. If present, the enzyme breaks down the DNA in the medium and produces a zone of clearing indicating a positive reaction.
  • This is a medium for determining the mutagenicity of a chemical reagent using the Ames Test. A histidine requiring strain (His- ) of Salmonella typhimurium is inoculated into a mixture of salt agar, histidine solution and the test reagent, which is mixed and then used to overlay the media. Following incubation if the test reagent is mutagenic it will reverse the His- phenotype allowing growth to occur at a higher level than the control.
  • PP0320

    XLD Agar

    Originally introduced as an aid to recovery of Shigella spp. XLD is also a first class medium for recovery of Salmonella spp. It differs from other media of this type in that it has less Sodium Desoxycholate as its selective agent. The indicator system is somewhat complex taking advantage of the fermentation or otherwise of three carbohydrates (Lactose Sucrose and Xylose) together with Lysine Decarboxylase and Sodium Thiosulphate as an indication of the presence or absence of Hydrogen Sulphide.
  • Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) Agar is used for the isolation and detection of Salmonella and Shigella spp. It differs from other media of this type in that it has less sodium deoxycholate as its selective agent. The indicator system is somewhat complex taking advantage of the fermentation or otherwise of three carbohydrates (lactose, sucrose and xylose) together with lysine decarboxylase and sodium thiosulphate as an indication of the presence or absence of hydrogen sulphide. The addition of novobiocin (20mg/L) improves the inhibition of Proteus spp.
  • This is a selective medium for the isolation and enumeration of Yersinia spp. in clinical and food samples. It is made selective by the inclusion of Sodium desoxycholate, Crystal violet and the antimicrobials Cefsulodin, Novobiocin and Irgasan. Mannitol is also included which Yersinia ferments giving a colony that produces a ‘Bull’s Eye’ appearance. The majority of other enteric organisms are inhibited but if they do grow they produce a large pinkish colony with an opaque halo.