Brucella Blood Agar, Phenylethyl Alcohol Blood Agar, Bacteroides Bile Esculin Agar/Laked Brucella Blood Agar w/ Kanamycin and Vancomycin – BRU, PEA, BBE/LKV

BRU – Product Description & Summary

Brucella Blood agar (BRU) is intended for the isolation, quantitation, and partial identification of obligate anaerobic bacteria from clinical specimens. This media will also support the growth of aerobic and microaerophilic bacteria if incubated appropriately. BRU is also suitable for use in antibiotic differential disk examination and spot biochemical testing.

BRU – Interpretation of Results & Limitations

BRU agar should support good growth of obligate anaerobes and other fastidious microorganisms found in clinical infections. In addition, this media should support typical pigment production by Prevotella melaninogenica and typical double zone of β-hemolysis around colonies of Clostridium perfringens.

BRU agar will not provide complete information for identification of bacterial isolates. Additional test procedures and media are required for complete identification. In some cases, BRU agar may be overgrown with swarming Proteus spp. or Clostridium spp. It is recommended that selective media such as Brucella Laked Blood Agar with Kanamycin and Vancomycin (LKV, catalog #: AS-112) and/or Brucella Blood Agar with Phenylethyl Alcohol (PEA, catalog #: AS-113) also be inoculated from clinical specimens to prevent such overgrowth and thus provide isolated colonies. Consult reference materials for additional information.

BRU – Quality Control

The following organisms are routinely used for quality control testing at Anaerobe Systems.

* Organisms specified by CLSI for Quality Control testing of Anaerobic Blood Agars.

^t Pigment production may require more than 48 hours of incubation

BRU – Product Storage & Shelf Life

BRU Storage: Upon receipt, store at room temperature in original package until used. Avoid overheating or freezing. Do not use media if there are signs of deterioration (shrinking, cracking, or discoloration due to oxidation of media) or contamination. The expiration date applies to the product in its original packaging and stored as directed. Do not use product past the expiration date shown on the label.

BRU Shelf Life: 90 days from date of manufacture.

PEA – Product Description & Summary

PEA agar has a nutritive base that consists of casein, soy peptone, meat peptone, yeast extract, dextrose, hemin, and vitamin K1. The selective agent, phenylethyl alcohol, reversibly inhibits DNA synthesis and thus inhibits facultative anaerobic gram-negative bacteria such as those of the family Enterobacteriaceae. This medium will support the growth of most obligate anaerobic bacteria. Morphology of the colonies on PEA are similar to those found on enriched blood agar plates, like Brucella Blood Agar. PEA agar is especially useful in the selective isolation of anaerobes from mixed populations that contain rapidly growing gram-negative bacteria such as Proteus species. PEA agar inhibits the swarming by Proteus spp. and Clostridium septicum. This medium is prepared, dispensed, and packaged under oxygen-free conditions to prevent the formation of oxidized products prior to use.

PEA – Interpretation of Results & Limitations

If used properly, PEA will support good growth of most anaerobes found in clinical infections. PEA should inhibit the growth of facultative anaerobic gram-negative rods, like Escherichia coli and swarming of Proteus mirabilis.

PEA agar will not provide complete information for identification of bacterial isolates. Additional test procedures and media are required for complete identification. Some organisms that would normally grow on PEA agar may be inhibited. It is recommended that a non-selective medium, such as Brucella Blood Agar (BRU, catalog #: AS-111) also be inoculated from the same clinical specimen to assure recovery of all species present. Some strains of facultative organisms (which should be inhibited) may grow on PEA. A test for aerotolerance should be performed to confirm that each colony type is an obligate anaerobe. Consult reference materials for additional information.

PEA – Quality Control

The following organisms are routinely used for quality control performance testing at Anaerobe Systems.

PEA – Product Storage & Shelf Life

PEA Storage: Upon receipt, store at room temperature in original package until used. Avoid overheating or freezing. Do not use media if there are signs of deterioration (shrinking, cracking, or discoloration due to oxidation of media) or contamination. The expiration date applies to the product in its original packaging and stored as directed. Do not use product past the expiration date shown on the label.

PEA Shelf Life: 90 days from date of manufacture.

BBE – Product Description & Summary

Bacteroides Bile Esculin (BBE) agar is an enriched, selective, and differential medium used for the isolation and presumptive identification of obligately anaerobic gram-negative bacilli of the Bacteroides fragilis group and Bilophila wadsworthia (4).

BBE – Interpretation of Results & Limitations

If used properly, BBE agar supports good growth of the Bacteroides fragilis group (B. fragilis, B. distasonis, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. ovatus, and B. vulgatus) and inhibits growth of most facultative anaerobes and most other non-Bacteroides obligately anaerobic bacteria. Members of the B. fragilis group should grow as brown to black colonies surrounded by a brown to black zone in the media, except for B. ovatus and B. vulgatus, which produce catalase.

BBE agar will not provide complete information for identification of bacterial isolates. Additional test procedures and media are required for complete identification. Some organisms that would normally grow on BBE medium may be inhibited. It is recommended that a non-selective medium, such as Brucella Blood Agar (BRU, catalog #: AS-111) also be inoculated from the same clinical specimen to assure recovery of all species present. Some strains of facultative organisms (which should be inhibited) may grow on BBE. A test for aerotolerance should be performed to confirm that each colony type is an obligate anaerobe. Consult reference materials for additional information.

BBE – Quality Control

The following organisms are routinely used for quality control performance testing at Anaerobe Systems.

BBE – Product Storage & Shelf Life

BBE Storage: Upon receipt, store at room temperature in original package until used. Avoid overheating or freezing. Do not use media if there are signs of deterioration (shrinking, cracking, or discoloration due to oxidation of media) or contamination. The expiration date applies to the product in its original packaging and stored as directed. Do not use product past the expiration date shown on the label.

BBE Shelf Life: 90 days from date of manufacture.

LKV – Product Description & Summary

Laked Brucella Blood Agar with Kanamycin and Vancomycin (LKV) is an enriched, selective, and differential medium for the isolation and partial identification of obligately anaerobic gram-negative bacilli. LKV agar is useful for the rapid isolation of Prevotella species.

LKV – Interpretation of Results & Limitations

If used properly, LKV agar will support good growth of some obligately anaerobic gram-negative bacteria (e.g. Prevotella melaningenica and Bacteroides fragilis) and inhibit the growth of facultatively anaerobic bacteria (e.g. Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-positive obligate anaerobes (e.g. Clostridium perfringens and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius). LKV agar will support the pigmentation of Prevotella and Porphyromonas species.

LKV – Quality Control

The following organisms are routinely used for quality control performance testing at Anaerobe Systems.

^t Pigment production may require more than 48 hours incubation.

LKV – Product Storage & Shelf Life

LKV Storage: Upon receipt, store at room temperature in original package until used. Avoid overheating or freezing. Do not use media if there are signs of deterioration (shrinking, cracking, or discoloration due to oxidation of media) or contamination. The expiration date applies to the product in its original packaging and stored as directed. Do not use product past the expiration date shown on the label.

LKV Shelf Life: 90 days from date of manufacture.