COLUMBIA 5% BLOOD AGAR PLATE

Columbia 5% Blood Agar Plate is a nutrient-rich culture medium formulated for the isolation and cultivation of fastidious microorganisms. It is based on the Columbia Agar composition developed by Ellner and colleagues and enables the growth of a wide variety of clinically important bacteria. The medium is also recommended in the Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods, a testament to its efficacy for microbiological testing.
Its enhanced performance is due to the synergistic effect of two peptones and yeast extract as a source of amino acids, peptides, B-complex vitamins and other growth factors necessary for the growth of microorganisms. Corn starch absorbs any toxic metabolic by-products which may be present in the specimen and it also acts as a substrate for those organisms which can utilize it. The presence of sheep blood enables differentiation of haemolytic activity and provides the X factor (heme) required by a number of pathogenic bacteria. Since the medium lacks the V factor (NAD), which is essential for the proliferation of such organisms, it will prevent growth of Haemophilus influenzae, which requires both X and V factors.
Its rich content and good visualisation of haemolysis allow the medium to be used with confidence for the isolation, culture and differentiation of fastidious organisms in daily bacteriological work.

Supports the isolation and cultivation of fastidious microorganisms while enabling clear observation of haemolytic reactions for reliable microbial identification.