Middlebrook 7H11 Agar (7244)

Intended Use

Middlebrook 7H11 Agar is specifically formulated for the cultivation of Mycobacterium spp., when supplemented with glycerol and OADC enrichment. This high-quality microbiological medium is essential for researchers and laboratories focusing on mycobacterial infections, particularly tuberculosis.

Product Summary and Explanation

Globally, mycobacterial infections, especially tuberculosis, continue to pose significant health challenges, accounting for nearly three million deaths annually. The rise in non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections since 1985 further emphasizes the need for effective diagnostic methods. Middlebrook 7H11 Agar offers distinct advantages over traditional lowenstein formulations:

• Enhanced Stability: Agar-based media remain stable in the presence of contaminating proteolytic organisms, reducing the risk of liquefaction during incubation.
• Clarity for Observation: The clear medium permits easy visualization of mycobacterial colonies within just 10 to 12 days of incubation, even amidst contaminating flora, aiding in precise identification and characterization.
• Drug Retention: The solid formulation maintains exact concentrations of added antimicrobial agents, minimizing drug inactivation, thus ensuring reliable susceptibility testing.

Scientific Background

Middlebrook 7H11 Agar is a refined version of the earlier Middlebrook 7H10 Agar Special, as outlined by researchers Cohn, Waggoner, and McClately. The significant enhancement in growth stimulation for fastidious strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be attributed to the addition of an enzymatic digest of casein. This modification not only boosts organism growth but also facilitates improved susceptibility testing, making it an invaluable tool in microbiological research.

Specifications