Liofilchem® Potassium Tellurite Supplement

Liofilchem® Potassium Tellurite Supplement is a selective reagent used in the preparation of microbiological culture media for the isolation and differentiation of Staphylococcus aureus and other tellurite-reducing organisms.

Available in 1% and 3.5% aqueous solutions, this supplement is designed for use with Vogel Johnson Agar (REF. 610186 or 620186) and other tellurite-based media formulations, including those for diagnostic, clinical, and food microbiology applications.

Each supplement provides precise tellurite concentration to ensure consistent selectivity, high specificity, and reliable differentiation of target organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, which produces black or gray colonies due to tellurite reduction.

Key Features

• Ready-to-use sterile solution – simplifies media preparation.
• High selectivity for Staphylococcus aureus and other tellurite-reducing bacteria.
• Flexible formulations – available in 1% and 3.5% solutions.
• Compatible with Vogel Johnson Agar, Baird-Parker Agar, and other tellurite media.
• Sterile, sealed 10 mL vials for precise, contamination-free use.
• Reliable quality control tested for selective inhibition and target organism growth.

Principle of Method

Potassium tellurite acts as a selective inhibitory agent in culture media, suppressing the growth of non-target microorganisms while allowing the recovery of Staphylococcus aureus and other tellurite-reducing species.

These organisms reduce potassium tellurite to metallic tellurium, forming characteristic black or gray colonies that aid in differentiation and enumeration.

Composition (per vial)

Directions for Use

1. Add aseptically the entire content of one 10 mL vial of Potassium Tellurite 1% Supplement to 500 mL of Vogel Johnson Agar (REF. 610186 or 620186) that has been autoclaved and cooled to 45–50°C.
2. Mix thoroughly to ensure uniform distribution.
3. Pour into sterile Petri dishes or culture containers.
4. Follow the base medium’s specific instructions for incubation and interpretation.

For other tellurite-based media, refer to the relevant technical sheet for the required supplement quantity.

Quality Control

Incubation: 24–48 hours at 36 ± 1°C

Appearance: Clear, colorless solution free from precipitate

Product Specifications

Storage

• Store at 2–8°C in the original packaging.
• Protect from light and contamination.
• Do not use after the expiry date indicated on the label.
• Discard any solution showing signs of deterioration or precipitation.

Safety & Handling

• For in vitro diagnostic use only.
• Designed for professional laboratory use.
• Consult the product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before use.
• Dispose of materials according to local biosafety and waste management regulations.

Applications

• Vogel Johnson Agar (REF. 610186 / 620186): Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from clinical and food samples.
• Baird-Parker Medium: Detection and differentiation of S. aureus in food microbiology.
• Giolitti-Cantoni and Hoyle’s Media: Isolation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and coagulase-positive staphylococci.
• Quality control and research laboratories: Selective differentiation of tellurite-reducing bacteria.

Unique Advantages

• Ready-to-use aqueous solution eliminates the need for reagent preparation.
• Accurate tellurite concentration ensures batch-to-batch consistency.
• Compatible with multiple tellurite-based culture media.
• Reliable selectivity for pathogenic Staphylococcus species.
• Proven performance validated under Liofilchem’s stringent QC standards.

The Liofilchem® Potassium Tellurite Supplement (1% and 3.5%) provides a ready-to-use, selective additive for preparing tellurite-enriched culture media used in the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

With its precision formulation, reliable quality control, and ease of use, this supplement ensures dependable results in clinical, food, and environmental microbiology laboratories.