The primary challenge in culturing Bordetella species is their sensitivity to toxic substances like fatty acids, peroxides, and sulfur compounds often found in clinical swabs or even within the agar itself. This medium addresses these challenges through a dual-protection system: the Potato Infusion provides a rich starch base, while Activated Charcoal effectively adsorbs and neutralizes inhibitory metabolic by-products and environmental toxins. Peptone and Glycerol supply essential nitrogen and carbon, while Sodium Chloride maintains osmotic stability. When supplemented with blood, the medium provides the necessary X and V factors for growth and allows for the detection of characteristic hemolytic patterns.
Advantages
- Enhanced Protection: Activated charcoal provides a superior neutralizing effect compared to standard formulations, ensuring higher recovery rates of fragile Bordetella cells.
- Extended Shelf Life: The presence of charcoal helps stabilize the medium, maintaining its growth-promoting properties for longer periods.
- High Diagnostic Sensitivity: Optimized to support the growth of B. pertussis, which typically appears as small, glistening "mercury-like" colonies.
- Improved Visibility: The black background provided by the charcoal offers excellent visual contrast for the identification of young colonies.
- Fastidious Support: Specifically balanced to meet the demanding requirements of slow-growing respiratory pathogens.
Technical specifications
| Catalogue number |
1490 |
| Brand |
Condalab |
| Application |
Isolation and cultivation of Bordetella pertussis |
| Typical Composition (g/L) |
Potato Infusion (12.0); Peptone (10.0); Sodium Chloride (5.5); Activated Charcoal (4.0); Bacteriological Agar (19.0) |
| Final pH (at 25 °C) |
6.7 ± 0.2 |
| Preparation |
50.5 g/L (plus 1% Glycerol and 15-20% Blood) |
| Storage Temperature |
2 – 25 °C |
Available packaging options
| 1490-500G |
500 g plastic bottle |
