CHROMagar™ Orientation

CHROMagar™ Orientation is a versatile, non-selective chromogenic culture medium designed to streamline the detection, differentiation, and presumptive identification of uropathogens in urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnostics. It provides a comprehensive solution by combining the capabilities of multiple traditional media into a single plate, enabling laboratories to save time, reduce workload, and achieve accurate results with ease.

Key Features

1. Comprehensive Pathogen Differentiation

• Produces distinct colony colors for a wide range of uropathogens, aiding in the differentiation and presumptive identification of:
  • Escherichia coli (specificity of 99.3% for UTI-related strains).
  • Proteus spp., Enterococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., and other Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.
• Facilitates the recognition of mixed growth in urine samples, which is critical for effective diagnosis.

2. Streamlined Diagnostics

• Replaces traditional media combinations like blood agar, CLED, and MacConkey agar, providing equivalent or superior results on a single plate.
• Enables semi-quantitative assessments and immediate differentiation of pathogens.

3. High Sensitivity and Minor Population Detection

• Pinpoints the presence of minor bacterial populations, which may be critical for accurate diagnosis and effective therapy.
• Improves overall detection rates compared to traditional culture methods.

4. Time-Saving and Workload Reduction

• Eliminates the need for multiple plates and reduces the requirement for subcultures, allowing direct antimicrobial susceptibility testing from primary isolates.
• Speeds up diagnostics with results interpretable after 18–24 hours of incubation.

5. Veterinary Applications

• Versatile enough to handle both human and veterinary urine samples, expanding its utility across various settings.

Applications

1. Clinical UTI Diagnostics

• Detection and differentiation of uropathogens from urine samples for rapid presumptive identification.

2. Mixed Flora Recognition

• Facilitates easy identification of mixed infections, a common occurrence in UTI cases.

3. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

• Direct testing from primary isolates without the need for subculturing, saving valuable laboratory time.

4. Veterinary Diagnostics

• Effective in identifying urinary pathogens in animal health settings.

How It Works

1. Sample Preparation:
   • Urine samples are streaked directly onto the CHROMagar™ Orientation plate.
2. Incubation:
   • Incubate at 35–37°C for 18–24 hours under aerobic conditions.
3. Result Interpretation:
   • Observe distinct colony colors for specific pathogens:
     • E. coli: Pink colonies.
     • Klebsiella spp. and coliforms: Blue or metallic blue colonies.
     • Proteus spp.: Brown halos indicating urease activity.
     • Enterococcus spp.: Green to blue-green colonies.
     • Pseudomonas spp.: Pale or colorless colonies.
4. Follow-Up:
   • Perform confirmatory tests or susceptibility testing directly from primary isolates if required.

Advantages

1. High Specificity for E. coli

• Achieves a specificity of 99.3%, making it highly reliable for identifying the most common UTI pathogen.

2. Saves Time and Resources

• Combines the utility of three traditional plates into one, significantly reducing material and labor costs.

3. Enhanced Diagnosis

• Superior detection of minor populations and mixed flora for comprehensive diagnostic insights.

4. Simplifies Laboratory Workflow

• Eliminates the need for subcultures, reducing delays in antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

5. Versatile Utility

• Suitable for both human and veterinary diagnostic needs.

Specifications

Comparison with Traditional Media

Why Choose CHROMagar™ Orientation?

• Efficiency: Combines differentiation, enumeration, and presumptive identification in one step.
• Accuracy: High specificity for common UTI pathogens, including E. coli.
• Time-Saving: Delivers rapid results, enabling direct susceptibility testing.

CHROMagar™ Orientation is ideal for clinical and veterinary laboratories seeking a streamlined, accurate, and cost-effective solution for UTI diagnostics.

Composition