Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ TCBS (Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salts Sucrose) Cholera Medium (Dehydrated)

The Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ TCBS Cholera Medium (Dehydrated) is a selective culture medium designed for the isolation of pathogenic Vibrio species. It is widely used in clinical, public health, and environmental microbiology laboratories to detect Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahemolyticus, and Vibrio vulnificus, which are significant human pathogens. This medium provides reproducible and reliable results, promoting rapid growth of pathogenic vibrios while suppressing non-vibrio organisms.

Key Features

1. Selective Isolation:
   • Optimized to selectively grow pathogenic Vibrio species, including:
     • Vibrio cholerae (cholera causative agent).
     • Vibrio parahemolyticus (agent of acute enteritis).
     • Vibrio vulnificus (associated with severe infections).
2. Superior Formulation:
   • Based on the formulation of Kobayashi et al., incorporating specially processed ox bile to prevent inhibitory defects.
3. Ease of Use:
   • Dehydrated powder form eliminates the need for additional additives or aseptic additions of blood, simplifying preparation.
4. Enhanced Growth:
   • Promotes rapid growth of pathogenic vibrios after overnight incubation at 35°C.
   • Suppresses most Enterobacteriaceae and inhibits non-vibrio species for at least 24 hours.
5. Reproducibility:
   • Delivers consistent and reliable results across various applications, including clinical, fecal, and environmental sample testing.

Composition

Specifications

Applications

1. Clinical Microbiology:
   • Detects pathogenic vibrios in fecal samples from patients with suspected cholera or other vibrio-related infections.
2. Environmental Testing:
   • Monitors water sources for the presence of Vibrio species, ensuring public health safety.
3. Food Testing:
   • Screens seafood and other marine-derived food products for contamination by Vibrio species.

Advantages

1. Selective and Differential:
   • Inhibits competing organisms, enabling rapid and targeted isolation of Vibrio species.
2. Reproducibility:
   • Provides consistent results across multiple testing scenarios.
3. Ease of Preparation:
   • Dehydrated format simplifies medium preparation without requiring additional supplements.
4. Time Efficiency:
   • Rapid growth allows detection of pathogenic vibrios within 24 hours.
5. Proven Effectiveness:
   • Superior growth characteristics compared to alternative media like Lauryl Sulphate Tellurite Agar.

Comparison with Alternative Media

Usage Instructions

1. Preparation:
   • Dissolve 88 g of TCBS powder in 1L of distilled water.
   • Heat to boiling to dissolve completely.
   • Autoclave for sterilization at 121°C for 15 minutes.
2. Sample Inoculation:
   • Inoculate the medium with the sample using sterile techniques.
3. Incubation:
   • Incubate plates at 35°C for 18–24 hours.
4. Interpretation:
   • Vibrio cholerae: Yellow colonies (sucrose fermenters).
   • Vibrio parahemolyticus: Green or blue-green colonies (non-sucrose fermenters).

Limitations

• Slight growth of non-target organisms like Proteus and Enterococcus faecalis may occur but can be easily distinguished morphologically.

The Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ TCBS Cholera Medium is a reliable, efficient, and user-friendly solution for the selective isolation of pathogenic Vibrio species. Its superior formulation and proven performance make it a preferred choice in clinical and environmental microbiology laboratories worldwide.