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Culture Media

Culture media or growth media is a liquid or gel support media provided with essential nutrients and growth parameters required for the growth of microorganisms.

  • Culture media are of different types depending on the nutrients they have and the type of microorganisms that grow on them.
  • Growth media are primarily of two types; one for cell culture where specific cell types are grown of specific plants and animals, and another for microbiological culture to support the growth of microorganisms on artificial surfaces.
  • For microbial culture, the most common culture media are agar plates or broth medium. Agar plates are made up of a growth medium containing agar that results in the formation of a gel-like support medium for growth.
  • The broth medium, in turn, is made without any agar, which gives it the consistency of a liquid support medium.
  • Both the agar plates and broth media can be either general media or selective media.
  • General media support the growth of multiple organisms, while selective media allow the selective growth of fastidious organisms that require specific nutrient and environmental requirements.
  • For microorganisms like viruses or parasites, a growth medium containing living cells are required.
  • All culture media have a list of common ingredients like a source of carbon, a source of protein or nitrogen, some salts, and water. 
  • In the case of culture media used for a specific purpose; however, additional ingredients like organic compounds or pH indicators might also be present.
  • The most common general culture media for the isolation of bacteria is the Nutrient Agar that supports the growth of a diverse group of bacteria.
  • Culture media are an important part of routine laboratory research as it allows the artificial culture of microorganisms under laboratory conditions and also helps in isolation and differentiation of different microorganisms.
  • The growth pattern and colony morphology of certain bacteria on certain growth media provide a basis for the identification of the bacteria.
  • Traditionally, this technique was one of the most important methods of identification of microorganisms. It is still employed in many laboratories throughout the world for diagnostic and educational purposes.

Cary Blair Transport Medium- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

April 21, 2022January 2, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Cary Blair Transport Medium

Cary-Blair Transport Medium is a simple, semi-solid, non-nutritive medium used for the collection and preservation of microbiological specimens. The minimal nutrients in the medium facilitate the survival of organisms without … Read more

Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) Agar- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

May 4, 2022January 2, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) Agar

In 1919, Rosenow devised an excellent medium for culturing streptococci by using a dextrose broth supplemented with brain tissue. Rosenow’s formulation was later modified by Hayden who found the addition … Read more

Chocolate Agar- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

January 13, 2023January 2, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Chocolate Agar

Chocolate agar is essentially the same as blood agar except that during preparation the red blood cells are lysed when added to molten agar base. As a result, the cell … Read more

CHROMagar- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

May 4, 2022January 2, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
CHROMagar (Rambach Agar)

The first chromogenic culture medium for the detection of E. coli was invented and patented by Dr. A. Rambach in 1979. This technology is a color-based differentiation method. It is … Read more

CLED Agar- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

January 8, 2022January 2, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Cystine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient (CLED) Agar

Cystine-Lactose-Electrolyte-Deficient (CLED) medium, first described by Sandys and later modified by Mackey and Sandys, is generally used for diagnostic routine urinary bacteriology as a non-selective medium capable of supporting the growth of … Read more

Streptococcus Selective Agar- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

January 8, 2022January 2, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Streptococcus Selective Agar

Roantree et al introduced a medium for isolation of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. The medium-enriched with yeast nucleic acid and maltose promoted increased colony size and enhanced clarity and sharpness … Read more

TCBS Agar- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

January 13, 2023January 2, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Result Interpretation on Thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) Agar

Thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) Agar, is a type of selective agar that is used in microbiology laboratories to isolate Vibrio species. TCBS Agar is a selective differential medium for isolating and cultivating Vibrio cholerae … Read more

Lactobacilli MRS Broth- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

January 8, 2022January 2, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Lactobacilli MRS Broth

Lactobacilli MRS Broth was developed by deMan, et al., to provide luxuriant growth of lactobacilli isolated from oral, fecal, and other specimen sources. Lactobacilli MRS Broth is an improved medium … Read more

Anaerobic Blood Agar- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

January 8, 2022January 1, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Anaerobic Blood Agar

Anaerobic Blood Agar is a solid media recommended for use in qualitative procedures for primary isolation and cultivation of anaerobic organisms, including fastidious strains. This medium was formulated by V.R. … Read more

Czapek’s Agar (CZA)- Composition, Principle, Preparation, Results, Uses

May 4, 2022January 1, 2022 by Sagar Aryal
Czapek's Agar (CZA)

Czapek medium, also called Czapek’s agar (CZA) or Czapek-Dox medium, is a growth medium for propagating fungi and other organisms in a laboratory. It is recommended for use in qualitative procedures for the cultivation of saprophytic fungi, soil … Read more

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