Bacteroides Bile Esculin and Laked Kanamycin Vancomycin bi-plate – BBE/LKV

BBE – Product Description & Summary

BBE agar contains casein, soy peptones, hemin, and vitamin K₁ as the nutritive base of the media. Selective agents include gentamicin, which inhibits facultative anaerobes, and bile, which inhibits most gram-positive bacteria and anaerobic organisms other than the B. fragilis group. The addition of esculin and ferric ammonium citrate to the media permits the recognition of esculin hydrolysis by the organisms. The result is a brown to black coloration around the esculin-positive colonies. Bilophila species usually produce black-centered colonies on BBE due to hydrogen sulfide production. Hemin is added as a growth factor and allows testing of catalase production. This media is prepared, stored, and dispensed under oxygen-free conditions to prevent the formation of oxidized products prior to use.

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

LKV agar contains casein, soy peptone, meat peptone, yeast extract, and dextrose as its nutritive base. The selective agents include kanamycin and vancomycin to prevent the growth of most obligate gram-negative and gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, along with most facultative anaerobic bacteria. Laked sheep blood and vitamin K₁ are added to facilitate the recovery, and pigment production, of Prevotella melaninogenica and Porphyromonas spp. This media is prepared, dispensed, and packaged under oxygen-free conditions to prevent the formation of oxidized products prior to use.

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 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 LKV 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 LKV. A test for aerotolerance should be performed to confirm that each colony type is an obligate anaerobe. Consult reference materials for additional information.

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.