Liofilchem® R.P.M.I. Agar

Liofilchem® R.P.M.I. Agar is a ready-to-use solid medium specifically formulated for antifungal susceptibility testing. It is recommended for use with Liofilchem Antifungal MIC Test Strips, providing reliable and standardized conditions for determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antifungal agents against yeasts and filamentous fungi.

The formulation is based on RPMI 1640 medium buffered with MOPS (0.165M) and supplemented with glucose and agar, ensuring optimal fungal growth and reproducible antifungal diffusion performance.

Typical Formula (g/L)

• RPMI 1640 + MOPS (0.165M) + L-glutamine – 46.19
• Glucose – 20.0
• Agar – 15.0
• Final pH: 7.0 ± 0.2

Key Features

• Designed for antifungal susceptibility testing
• Compatible with Antifungal MIC Test Strips
• Standardized pH for reproducible results
• Clear, light rose-colored medium
• Ready-to-use plates
• In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) medical device
• Quality-controlled for sterility and performance

Principle

R.P.M.I. Agar provides standardized growth conditions recommended by CLSI guidelines for antifungal susceptibility testing. The buffered RPMI 1640 formulation supports optimal fungal growth while maintaining stable pH during incubation, enabling accurate MIC determination.

Testing Procedure

1. Select 4–5 colonies from 24-hour cultures.
2. Suspend in saline or sterile water to achieve 0.5 McFarland turbidity.
3. Inoculate the entire agar surface using a sterile swab.
4. Allow plates to dry.
5. Apply antifungal discs or MIC Test Strips.
6. Incubate at 35°C for 24–48 hours.

Interpretation of Results

• Measure inhibition zones using a compass.
• For MIC Test Strips, read the MIC value at the intersection of the inhibition ellipse and strip scale.
• If the intersection falls between two scale segments, round up to the higher value.

Quality Control

Sterility Control

• 7 days at 20 ± 2°C (aerobiosis)
• 7 days at 36 ± 1°C (aerobiosis)

Microbiological Performance (18–24 h at 36 ± 1°C)

Storage & Shelf Life

• Storage Temperature: 10–25°C (away from light)
• Shelf Life: 6 months
• Use before expiry date indicated on label

Packaging Options

Compliance & References

• CLSI M27-A3 (Yeasts)
• CLSI M38-A2 (Filamentous Fungi)
• CLSI M27-S3 Informational Supplement

Liofilchem® R.P.M.I. Agar is a standardized and quality-controlled medium designed to deliver accurate and reproducible antifungal susceptibility testing results. Its optimized RPMI 1640–MOPS formulation ensures reliable fungal growth and precise MIC determination when used with Antifungal MIC Test Strips.