Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ Signal™ Blood Culture System

The Oxoid SIGNAL Blood Culture System is an advanced diagnostic tool designed for the detection of microbial growth in blood samples. It combines efficient aerobic, anaerobic, and micro-aerophilic organism cultivation with an innovative pressure-based growth indicator, enabling accurate and timely identification of positive blood cultures.

Key Features

1. Comprehensive Growth Medium:
   • Supports a wide range of organisms, including aerobic, anaerobic, and micro-aerophilic microbes.
   • Contains Sodium Polyanethol Sulphonate (SPS) to inhibit clotting, neutralize serum bactericidal effects, and partially inactivate antibiotics.
2. Pressure-Based Detection:
   • Microbial activity generates positive pressure, displacing a blood/broth mixture into the indicator device for visible detection.
3. Simple Workflow:
   • Easy blood inoculation and mixing protocol.
   • Clear indicator system simplifies positive culture recognition.
4. Robust Design:
   • Uses high-quality growth bottles with sterile sealing.
   • Includes incubation trays for optimal culture management.
5. Validated with Quality Assurance:
   • Tested against a range of aerobic and anaerobic organisms such as E. coli, S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans.

Kit Components

Medium Composition

Applications

1. Detection of Microbial Infections:
   • Suitable for identifying bloodstream infections caused by a variety of organisms, including bacteria and fungi.
2. Clinical Diagnostics:
   • Supports microbiology labs in diagnosing sepsis, endocarditis, and other bloodborne infections.
3. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing:
   • Enables downstream testing for antibiotic resistance.

How It Works

1. Blood Collection and Inoculation:
   • Aseptically collect up to 10 mL of blood and inject it into the culture bottle.
2. Incubation and Detection:
   • Incubate at 36 ± 1°C, shaking at 150 orbits/min for the first 24 hours.
   • Positive pressure caused by microbial growth displaces the blood/broth mixture into the indicator device.
3. Result Interpretation:
   • Positive cultures are identified visually when the blood/broth mixture rises above the locking sleeve of the indicator device.
4. Follow-Up:
   • Subculture positive samples for further identification and susceptibility testing.

Advantages

1. Broad Organism Support:
   • Cultures both common and fastidious organisms.
2. Ease of Use:
   • Simple workflow with visual positive culture identification.
3. Rapid and Reliable:
   • Results can be detected early through pressure changes.
4. Validated and Quality-Assured:
   • Tested against a wide panel of organisms to ensure consistent performance.

Performance Validation

Comparison of Oxoid SIGNAL® Blood Culture System and the BD BACTEC™ Blood Culture System 

Summary

• The Oxoid SIGNAL® System is a simple and cost-effective solution, suitable for smaller labs with limited automation needs.
• The BD BACTEC™ System provides faster, automated, and more reliable results, making it ideal for high-throughput labs and settings where safety and rapid diagnostics are critical.

Why Choose Oxoid SIGNAL?

1. Reliable Detection:
   • Pressure-based growth detection system ensures accuracy.
2. Comprehensive Microbial Coverage:
   • Cultures a broad range of organisms, including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
3. Efficient Workflow:
   • Simplifies diagnostic workflows with easy visual interpretation.
4. Proven Performance:
   • Validated by Oxoid’s stringent quality assurance standards.

The Oxoid SIGNAL Blood Culture System is a trusted solution for diagnosing bloodstream infections, providing accurate, rapid, and reliable microbial detection.