Thermo Scientific Limited has launched a new selective culture medium for the isolation and identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . New Thermo Scientific Pseudomonas Cetrimide Agar (CM579) exploits and enhances the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to produce coloured and fluorescent water-soluble iron chelators, allowing the presence of the organism to be easily visualised on an agar plate.

The addition of Cetrimide inhibits the growth of other micro-organisms whilst magnesium chloride and potassium sulphate in the medium enhance the production of pyoverdin and pyocyanin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. If Pseudomonas aeruginosa is present, this results in yellow-green or yellow-brown colonies that fluoresce under UV light.

Pseudomonas Cetrmide Agar is recommended by both the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) XXVI [1] and the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) IV [2] for use in Microbial Limit Tests. In addition, this medium is recommended in A.O.A.C. guidelines [3] for the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cosmetics and in the A. O. A. C method for testing disinfectants on hard surfaces [3,4].

To find out more about Thermo Scientific Pseudomonas Cetrimide Agar and other products in the Thermo Scientific range for the growth and identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Telephone: +44 1256 841144 Fax: +44 1256 463388 Visit the Thermo Scientific website at http://www.oxoid.com/

References: [1] United States Pharmacopoeia 2002. Microbiological Limit Tests, United States Pharmacopoeia, 26th Edition. United States Pharmacopial Convention, Rockville, M.D. [2] European Pharmacopoeia 2002. Microbial Examination of Non-Sterile Products (Tests for Specified Microorganisms). European Pharmacopoeia 4th Edition. [3] Association of Official Analytical Chemists 1995. Bacteriological Analytical Manual, 8th Edition. A.O.A.C. International, Gaithersburg, M.D. [4] Official Methods of Analysis of A.O.A.C. International, 17th Edition, Revision 1, 2002.