Thermo Fisher™ Oxoid™ Sheep Blood Agar Base (Dehydrated)

Thermo Scientific™ Sheep Blood Agar Base (Dehydrated) is a high-nutrient microbiological medium designed for the cultivation and isolation of fastidious microorganisms from clinical and environmental samples. When supplemented with sheep blood, this medium enhances hemolytic reactions, ensuring maximum recovery and proper differentiation of bacterial species, especially Streptococcus pyogenes and other hemolytic streptococci.

This nonselective, general-purpose medium can be enriched with blood or other supplements for diagnostic microbiology, research, and food testing applications. It is based on the Blood Agar Base No.2 CM0271 formulation, with modifications to optimize bacterial growth and hemolysis detection.

Key Features & Benefits

1. Optimized for Hemolytic Reaction Studies
   • When supplemented with sheep blood, the medium supports accurate alpha, beta, and gamma hemolysis reactions.
   • Ensures enhanced recovery of Streptococcus pyogenes and other fastidious organisms.
2. High-Nutrient Composition for Maximum Growth
   • Contains rich peptones and nitrogenous compounds to promote robust microbial growth.
   • Supports cultivation of fastidious bacterial strains from clinical and non-clinical samples.
3. Reduced Mixed Hemolytic Reactions
   • Specially formulated to prevent interference from trace fermentable carbohydrates.
   • Eliminates inconsistencies seen with other blood agar formulations when supplemented with sheep blood.
4. Versatile Applications in Clinical & Food Microbiology
   • Used in clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical microbiology, and research laboratories.
   • Can be enriched with various additives for specialized microbial culturing.
5. Long Shelf Life & Easy Preparation
   • Available in dehydrated powder form for customized preparation of culture plates.
   • Provides 12.5 liters of medium per 500 g.

Product Specifications

Use Cases & Applications

1. Clinical Microbiology & Diagnostic Testing

• Isolation of Pathogenic Bacteria from Clinical Samples
  • Detects beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and other hemolytic bacteria.
  • Supports growth of fastidious organisms such as Neisseria spp. and Haemophilus spp.
• Differentiation of Hemolytic Reactions
  • Facilitates classification of alpha (partial hemolysis), beta (complete hemolysis), and gamma (non-hemolytic) bacterial strains.

2. Food & Beverage Microbiology

• Microbial Contamination Testing in Dairy & Meat Products
  • Detects foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms.
  • Ensures safety and compliance in food quality control.
• Water & Environmental Microbiology
  • Used for monitoring bacterial contamination in water and environmental samples.
  • Supports public health and safety investigations.

3. Pharmaceutical & Research Microbiology

• Microbial Load Testing in Pharmaceutical Products
  • Ensures compliance with regulatory microbiological quality control standards.
  • Identifies contaminating microorganisms in sterile and non-sterile formulations.
• Bacterial Pathogenesis & Antibiotic Sensitivity Studies
  • Provides a rich growth medium for bacterial virulence and antimicrobial resistance research.

Preparation & Usage Instructions

1. Rehydration & Autoclaving:
   • Suspend 40 g of Sheep Blood Agar Base in 1 liter of distilled water.
   • Heat to boiling to dissolve the medium completely.
   • Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.
2. Supplementation with Sheep Blood:
   • Allow the sterilized medium to cool to 45–50°C.
   • Add 5–10% sterile defibrinated sheep blood under aseptic conditions.
   • Mix gently and pour into sterile petri dishes.
3. Storage & Stability:
   • Store prepared plates at 2–8°C in a sealed container to prevent moisture loss.
   • Use within 2–4 weeks for optimal performance.

Storage & Handling Instructions

• Storage Conditions:
  • Store the dehydrated medium at 10–30°C in a dry environment.
  • Keep away from moisture, light, and heat to maintain stability.
• Handling Precautions:
  • Prepare under aseptic laboratory conditions.
  • Wear protective gloves and a lab coat when handling bacterial cultures.
• Disposal Guidelines:
  • Dispose of used plates and media according to biohazard regulations.
  • Autoclave contaminated materials before disposal.

Why Choose Thermo Scientific™ Sheep Blood Agar Base?

✅ Optimized for Hemolysis Studies – Reduces mixed hemolytic reactions in Streptococcus pyogenes detection.

✅ High-Nutrient Composition – Supports the growth of fastidious bacterial strains.

✅ Flexible & Customizable – Compatible with sheep blood, horse blood, or other supplements.

✅ Reliable & Reproducible – Consistently delivers accurate microbiological results.

✅ Trusted in Clinical & Food Microbiology – Used in diagnostic labs, research institutions, and food safety testing.

Thermo Scientific™ Sheep Blood Agar Base is an industry-leading microbiological medium, ensuring optimal bacterial recovery, differentiation, and identification in clinical, food, and environmental microbiology.