BIGGY Agar was specifically developed to differentiate species of the genus Candida based on their ability to reduce bismuth sulfite. The medium contains Bismuth Ammonium Citrate and Sodium Sulfite; when Candida species reduce these compounds to bismuth sulfide, they produce colonies ranging in color from brown to black. The degree of reduction and the resulting colony morphology are characteristic of different species. Yeast Extract and Dextrose provide the essential nutrients and energy for growth, while Glycine acts as a growth stimulant. The medium is highly selective, as the bismuth sulfite complex inhibits the growth of most commensal bacteria, allowing for the easy recovery of fungi from heavily contaminated sites like the oral cavity, vagina, or stool.
Advantages
- Presumptive Identification: Allows for the differentiation of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and other species based on distinct colony color and morphology.
- High Selectivity: Effectively suppresses the majority of bacterial flora, eliminating the need for additional antibiotics in many cases.
- Clear Visual Differentiation: The contrast between the cream-colored agar and the dark brown/black colonies makes enumeration simple.
- Clinical Utility: Widely recognized in mycological diagnostics for screening patients for candidiasis.
- Stable Formulation: Prepared with high-quality ingredients to ensure consistent sulfite reduction reactions across batches.
Technical specifications
| Catalogue number |
1006 |
| Brand |
Condalab |
| Application |
Isolation and differentiation of Candida spp. |
| Typical Composition (g/L) |
Yeast Extract (1.0); Glycine (10.0); Dextrose (Glucose) (10.0); Bismuth Ammonium Citrate (5.0); Sodium Sulfite (3.0); Bacteriological Agar (16.0) |
| Final pH (at 25 °C) |
6.8 ± 0.2 |
| Preparation |
45.0 g/L (Heat to boil only) |
| Storage Temperature |
2 – 25 °C |
Available packaging options
| 1006 |
500 g plastic bottle |
