Liofilchem® Defibrinated Sheep Blood

Liofilchem® Defibrinated Sheep Blood is a sterile, high-quality blood product that has been mechanically defibrinated to remove fibrin and clotting factors. It is intended for use as an additive to culture media, enabling the cultivation of fastidious microorganisms, including a wide range of bacterial and fungal species. This product is ideal for preparing enriched and selective media in clinical, pharmaceutical, and research microbiology laboratories.

Product Variants

Features

1. Defibrination Process: Mechanically defibrinated to ensure the removal of fibrin clots, maintaining the natural properties of blood while preventing coagulation.
2. High Sterility Standards: Produced under stringent quality controls to ensure sterility, making it suitable for microbiological use.
3. Wide Application Range: Supports the growth of fastidious pathogens and is compatible with various media types.
4. Convenient Volumes: Available in multiple volumes (25 mL to 500 mL) to cater to different laboratory scales.
5. Reliable Source: Derived from healthy sheep, ensuring consistency and high nutrient quality.

Applications and Use Cases

1. Preparation of Enriched Media

• Media: Blood agar (BA), Chocolate agar (CA), Columbia blood agar.
• Use Case: Enhances the growth of fastidious organisms like Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Haemophilus influenzae.
• Example:
  • Add 5-10% (v/v) defibrinated sheep blood to a suitable basal medium (e.g., tryptic soy agar) to prepare blood agar plates.

2. Hemolysis Differentiation

• Purpose: Distinguishes between hemolytic activity types (α-hemolysis, β-hemolysis, γ-hemolysis).
• Use Case: Clinical labs use blood agar prepared with sheep blood to identify pathogenic bacteria based on hemolysis patterns, such as:
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae (α-hemolysis).
  • Streptococcus pyogenes (β-hemolysis).
  • Enterococcus faecalis (γ-hemolysis).

3. Selective Media Formulation

• Media: Streptococcal selective agar, CAMP test media.
• Use Case: Enables selective isolation of specific bacterial species when combined with selective agents or antibiotics.
• Example: Blood agar with colistin and nalidixic acid (CNA) for selective growth of Gram-positive cocci.

4. Research in Veterinary Microbiology

• Purpose: Used in veterinary microbiology to isolate pathogens from animal samples.
• Use Case: Supports research on zoonotic diseases and the identification of veterinary pathogens like Pasteurella multocida or Brucella spp.

5. Mycology Applications

• Media: Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) with sheep blood.
• Use Case: Supports the growth of fastidious fungi and yeast, such as Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.

6. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

• Use Case: Sheep blood is often used in media for antibiotic susceptibility testing of fastidious bacteria, including Streptococci and Haemophilus species.

Storage and Handling

1. Storage Conditions: Store at 2-8°C. Do not freeze, as freezing can damage red blood cells and compromise performance.
2. Shelf Life: Refer to the expiry date indicated on the label.
3. Sterility Maintenance: Always handle under aseptic conditions. Use sterile pipettes or syringes for dispensing.

Precautions

• For in vitro diagnostic use only.
• Not for human or animal therapeutic use.
• Handle in compliance with biosafety protocols to prevent contamination or exposure.
• Dispose of according to institutional and local regulations for biological waste.

Quality Assurance

• Each batch undergoes rigorous quality control to ensure sterility, nutrient availability, and suitability for microbiological applications.
• Testing performed using reference strains like:
  • Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC® 19615).
  • Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC® 25923).
  • Escherichia coli (ATCC® 25922).

Ordering Information

Liofilchem® Defibrinated Sheep Blood is a versatile and reliable product for microbiological applications, offering excellent performance for routine diagnostics, pathogen differentiation, and research. It is an essential component in any laboratory focused on clinical, environmental, or veterinary microbiology.