Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ Wilkins-Chalgren Anaerobe Agar (Dehydrated).

Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ Wilkins-Chalgren Anaerobe Agar (Dehydrated)

The Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ Wilkins-Chalgren Anaerobe Agar is a versatile, dehydrated culture medium specifically designed for the general growth of anaerobic bacteria and for use in antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). This blood-free medium is optimized for the isolation, cultivation, and susceptibility testing of anaerobes and is effective in both non-selective and selective applications. It is compatible with a range of clinical and research workflows, providing reliable and reproducible results.

Key Features

1. Optimized for Anaerobic Growth:
   • Supports the growth of a wide variety of anaerobic bacteria, including:
     • Peptostreptococcus anaerobius
     • Prevotella melaninogenica
     • Eubacterium lentum
     • Veillonella spp.
     • Bacteroides fragilis
2. Blood-Free Formulation:
   • Eliminates the need for additional blood supplementation while maintaining excellent growth performance.
3. AST Compatibility:
   • Recommended for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) of anaerobic bacteria, including Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) methodology.
4. Comprehensive Nutrient Composition:
   • Tryptone and Gelatin Peptone: Provide essential nitrogen sources.
   • Yeast Extract: Supplies vitamins, purines, and pyrimidines.
   • L-Arginine: Ensures amino acid availability for growth.
   • Sodium Pyruvate: Serves as an energy source and degrades hydrogen peroxide.
   • Haemin and Menadione: Critical for the growth of Bacteroides and Prevotella species.
5. Selective Use with Supplements:
   • When combined with specific supplements, the medium can be tailored for selective isolation of:
     • Non-sporing anaerobes (NAT Medium) using N-S Anaerobe Supplement (SR0107).
     • Gram-negative anaerobes (NAV Medium) using G-N Anaerobe Supplement (SR0108).
6. Versatile Applications:
   • Effective for use in both Petri dishes and roll tubes, supporting diverse anaerobic culture techniques.

Specifications

Typical Composition

Preparation Directions

1. Non-Selective Medium for Anaerobes:
   • Suspend 43 g of the dehydrated medium in 1 liter of distilled water.
   • Boil to dissolve completely.
   • Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.
2. Selective Medium for Non-Sporing Anaerobes (NAT Medium):
   • Suspend 21.5 g of the medium in 475 mL of distilled water with 0.5 mL Tween 80.
   • Add the contents of 1 vial of N-S Anaerobe Supplement (SR0107) and 25 mL defibrinated blood.
   • Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.
3. Selective Medium for Gram-Negative Anaerobes (NAV Medium):
   • Suspend 21.5 g of the medium in 475 mL of distilled water.
   • Add the contents of 1 vial of G-N Anaerobe Supplement (SR0108) and 25 mL defibrinated blood.
   • Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.

Applications and Use Cases

1. General Anaerobic Culture

• Purpose: Cultivate anaerobic bacteria from clinical or environmental samples.
• Use Case: Grow diverse anaerobic pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens or Bacteroides fragilis for diagnostic or research purposes.

2. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST)

• Purpose: Determine antibiotic resistance of anaerobic bacteria using ROC methodology.
• Use Case: Test susceptibility of anaerobes to commonly used antibiotics to inform clinical treatment strategies.

3. Selective Isolation of Non-Sporing Anaerobes

• Purpose: Isolate Gram-positive and Gram-negative non-sporing anaerobes using NAT Medium.
• Use Case: Recover Prevotella loescheii or Peptostreptococcus anaerobius from mixed clinical specimens.

4. Selective Isolation of Gram-Negative Anaerobes

• Purpose: Selectively grow Gram-negative anaerobes using NAV Medium.
• Use Case: Isolate Bacteroides fragilis or Fusobacterium necrophorum from complex clinical samples.

Advantages

1. Comprehensive Nutritional Profile:
   • Supports robust growth of fastidious anaerobic bacteria.
2. Versatility:
   • Adaptable for both non-selective and selective applications with simple modifications.
3. Ease of Preparation:
   • Dehydrated format simplifies storage and medium preparation.
4. Reproducible Results:
   • Standardized formulation ensures consistency across experiments.
5. Time-Saving:
   • Eliminates the need for additional blood supplements in standard applications.

Quality Control

Storage and Shelf Life

• Dehydrated Medium: Store at 10–30°C in a dry location.
• Prepared Plates: Store at 2–8°C, protected from light, and use within 3 days.

This comprehensive description provides detailed information about the Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ Wilkins-Chalgren Anaerobe Agar, ensuring clear understanding for clinical and research microbiologists. Let me know if further refinements are needed!