Pro-Cult® discs are designed to provide microbiologists with a simple, reliable, and high quality guaranteed first generation source of bacterial cultures that can be adapted for use in virtually any microbiological test method.

Each Pro-Cult disc is a freeze dried presentation of approximately 106 - 109 viable organisms. Unlike many other cultures derived from recognised culture collections, each lot number of Pro-Cult is guaranteed as "First Generation" directly traceable to its source.

Strains for production of Pro-Cult discs are taken from recognised national collections : ATCC, NCTC or C IP depending on the strain required. The original freeze dried culture is initially grown on appropriate culture media and then suspended in a special solution. This solution is then dispensed as drops and frozen without delay, when frozen, the freeze drying process can begin. This of course sounds very simple, but in practice it is not, full details of the exact production process being naturally of a proprietary nature to the manufacturer.

The resulting Pro-Cult discs can then be reconstituted in liquid media or placed directly onto the solid media. As the discs are extremely hygroscopic, moisture is absorbed from the solid media and the discs become spreadable within a few minutes to give an instant inoculum. This method is particularly recommended for fastidious organisms. All quality control testing used to guarantee the performance of Pro-Cult is UKAS accredited.

Supplied in units of 10 discs with an expiry date up to 12 months from date of manufacture depending on the strain. The extensive range available includes all requirements for BSAC (British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy)

The BSAC Organisms are available as a set from Pro-Lab Diagnostics (REF PLD100), please remember to advise your choice of recommended alternatives when ordering.

Also Available Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603 - Pro-Cult reference - PLD 83 ESBL (Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases) - enzymes that mediate resistance to extended-spectrum (third generation) cephalosporins (e.g., ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone) and monobactams (e.g., aztreonam) but do not affect cephamycins (e.g., cefoxitin and cefotetan) or carbapenems (e.g., meropenem or imipenem).

For further details on Pro-Cult please contact Mark Reed at Pro-lab Diagnostics, contact details above

Please note that Pro-Cult is only available from Pro-lab Diagnostics to UK customers, for details of availability outside of the UK please contact TCS directly

A special thanks to Julian Beadle, TCS Biosciences, for his valuable contribution to this article. ATCC is a registered trade mark of the American Type Culture Collection.