Description
Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salts Sucrose Agar
Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salts Sucrose Agar
TCBS (Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salts Sucrose) Agar medium is used for isolating and cultivating Vibrio cholerae and other enteropathogenic bacteria. TCBS is prepared according to the formula of Kobayashi et al. The pH of the medium is elevated to enhance the growth of V. cholerae. Sucrose is fermented by V. cholerae and its biotype Eltor producing yellowish-brown flat colonies. Fishbein et al. reported that V. parahaemolyticus produces light blueish colonies. Enteric and Gram-positive bacteria present in fecal specimens, including Proteus spp., are inhibited by the high concentrations of Sodium Thiosulfate and Citrate, the alkaline pH, and the presence of Bile Salts. TCBS Agar was also found useful in the isolation of V. fluvialis and V. vulnificus. Bromothymol Blue and Thymol Blue are pH indicators. Together with the fermentable sugar Sucrose, they allow to distinguish sucrose-fermenting (yellow colonies) and non-fermenting (green colonies) species. There is a choice of 3 sizes – 500g, 2kg, and 10kg.
PREPARATION: Mix 89 grams of the medium in one liter of purified water until evenly dispersed. Heat with repeated stirring to dissolve completely. DO NOT AUTOCLAVE.
Additional Literature:
T20-101 Product Information
T20-101 Safety Data Sheet
