SABOURAUD DEXTROSE AGAR

Sabouraud Dextrose Agar is a commonly used medium for the isolation of yeasts, molds and aciduric bacteria, particularly in samples where a clear isolation of fungi is required. It is also used in the clinical, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries for identification of fungi and organisms associated with skin infections.

Sabouraud Dextrose Agar is a modified formula that gives reliable fungal growth with minimal bacterial disturbance. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar is potent due to its composition and the environment in which it is allowed to grow. Mycological peptone contains nitrogenous compounds necessary for growth of the microorganisms and dextrose is the primary energy source. The high level of dextrose and low pH produce conditions strongly creates an environment that favors fungal growth. This selective property allows Sabouraud Dextrose Agar to be used for isolating dermatophytes and other fungi from mixed samples.

Sabouraud Dextrose Agar can be also used in microbial limit tests to enumerate the total number of yeasts and molds. The colonies formed on medium are counted as colony forming units which assist in determining contamination levels. In certain cases, a white colony might indicate the presence of organisms such as Candida species, which can be confirmed by other tests. Proper handling of Sabouraud Dextrose Agar is recommended as the growth of some fungi can produce airborne spores. When prepared as directed, this medium is stable and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar can be considered a dependable medium for the routine isolation and identification of fungi.

for cultivation of yeasts, molds and aciduric microorganisms