Blood Agar Base - BioReagent

Cat. No.: B1523345

GRADE & PURITY BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Overview

Used for isolation of pathogenic bacteria with high nutritional requirements and hemolytic testing.

Specifications

Specifications & Purity

BioReagent

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Grade

BioReagent

Product Line

biological_products

Application Protocols

No manufacturer-validated application protocols are provided in the Product Data for this item. The following is general, literature-based guidance for preparing blood agar plates.

• General plate preparation (literature; not item-specific)

  1. Weigh the required mass of Blood Agar Base; add to an appropriate volume of purified water per your SOP or the item’s CoA/Spec Sheet.
  2. Heat with stirring to dissolve and melt agar. Avoid boiling over.
  3. Autoclave per validated cycle for agar media. Allow to cool to ~45–50 °C.
  4. Aseptically add sterile defibrinated blood (commonly 5–10% v/v). Gently invert or stir to mix without aeration.
  5. Pour into sterile Petri dishes; allow to solidify. Dry plates if surface moisture is excessive. Store at recommended conditions and use within defined shelf-life.

• Quality controls (suggested, general)

  • Include uninoculated sterility controls.
  • Perform growth promotion testing with representative organisms demonstrating α-, β-, and γ-hemolysis as required by your application.

• Notes

  • Exact preparation parameters for this specific item (mass per liter, target pH, autoclave time) are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • For research use only (from Product Data).

Biological Roles

Blood Agar Base itself is not a single biomolecule but a culture substrate supporting microbial physiology.

• Functional role (general)

  • Provides carbon, nitrogen, vitamins, and minerals via peptones/digests for bacterial biosynthesis and energy metabolism.
  • Agar serves as a non-nutritive solidifying agent, forming a porous, hydrated gel that allows nutrient diffusion and colony development.
  • When supplemented with sterile blood, the medium supplies additional growth factors (e.g., hemin, NAD-associated components) beneficial for fastidious organisms.

• Phenotypic differentiation (literature)

  • Hemolysis patterns reflect secreted hemolysins and red cell interactions: β-hemolysis (complete lysis, clear halo), α-hemolysis (partial, greenish), γ-hemolysis (none). These phenotypes assist in preliminary identification workflows.

• Experimental considerations

  • Oxygen availability at the agar surface affects metabolic pathways and hemolysin expression; incubation atmosphere (aerobic, 5% CO₂, microaerophilic) should match organism requirements.
  • Surface moisture and plate age can influence colony morphology and hemolysis visibility.

• Limitations

  • Not inherently selective; background flora can mask target organisms. For mixed samples, consider pre-enrichment or selective media alongside blood agar.

Note: Organism-specific growth characteristics and exact nutrient composition for this item are Not specified; consult organism monographs and the item’s CoA/Spec Sheet for performance details.

Buffer Applications

This product is a complex culture medium base and is not intended for use as a defined buffer system.

• Context (general)

  • Many blood agar base formulations include components that provide moderate buffering capacity near neutrality (e.g., phosphates in some recipes), but the medium is not standardized for analytical buffering purposes.

• Practical guidance

  • For precise pH control in biochemical assays, use defined buffer systems (e.g., phosphate, HEPES, MOPS) prepared at known concentrations and ionic strengths.
  • If pH of the prepared medium is critical for your microbiological application, adjust according to internal SOPs and validate with a calibrated pH meter after sterilization/cooling.

• Item-specific details

  • Target pH, buffer components, and allowable adjustment ranges for this item are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Green Alternatives

For culture media, “green” considerations focus on resource efficiency, waste minimization, and biosafety rather than solvent substitution.

• Greener practice options (general guidance)

  • Right-sizing batches: Prepare only the volume needed to minimize unused plates that require biohazard disposal.
  • Energy efficiency: Optimize autoclave loads and cycles; avoid over-sterilization while maintaining validated sterility assurance levels.
  • Recyclable packaging: Prefer suppliers offering recyclable containers and consolidate orders to reduce transport emissions.
  • Water stewardship: Use appropriate water grade without excessive polishing beyond your assay’s needs; recover cooling water where permitted.
  • Waste reduction: Implement just-in-time plate pouring; segregate uncontaminated packaging waste from biohazard waste.

• Comparison to alternative media (context, literature)

  • Selective blood agar formulations (e.g., with antibiotics) may reduce repeat culturing by improving target recovery, indirectly reducing resource use; however, they can increase chemical load and cost.
  • Chromogenic media can streamline workflows but may have dyes with additional environmental burdens; balance performance benefits with waste considerations.

• Trade-offs

  • Adding blood introduces animal-derived materials; labs seeking animal-free options may choose alternative differential media (e.g., plant-based or synthetic indicator systems), noting differences in organism recovery and phenotype expression.

Note: These are general sustainability practices; specific environmental certifications or attributes are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No therapeutic or clinical claims are made for this product. The following pertains to laboratory and manufacturing quality contexts.

• Typical roles in regulated environments (general)

  • Environmental monitoring, bioburden assessment, and microbial limits testing may use blood-supplemented agar to recover fastidious organisms from facilities, utilities, or raw materials (as per internal or compendial methods where appropriate).
  • In-process controls: Assessment of contamination or organism phenotypes (e.g., hemolysis) during development of biologics or fermentation processes.

• Considerations for GMP/QC labs

  • Use documented SOPs defining preparation (water grade, sterilization), supplementation (type/source of sterile blood), plate labeling, storage, and expiry.
  • Perform growth promotion testing (GPT) on each lot and each prepared batch per pharmacopeial or internal requirements.
  • Traceability: Maintain certificates for media, supplements (blood), and consumables; document autoclave cycle records.

• Item-specific information

  • Pharmacopeial conformity, endotoxin limits, and other QC attributes are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Grade: BioReagent (from Product Data); assess suitability for your intended quality level before use in regulated workflows.

Physical Properties

Summary: As a dehydrated microbiological medium base, Blood Agar Base is supplied as a blended powder. Specific physicochemical constants for the mixture are not defined.

• Item-specific properties
  • Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular weight (mixture): Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Storage and shipping (from Product Data)
  • Storage: Room temperature
  • Shipped in: Normal
• Literature/general values (for typical blood agar base preparations; not specifications)
  • Solubility: Freely soluble/dispersible in purified/distilled water during heating; forms a gel on cooling when agar is present (literature).
  • Typical prepared medium pH: Often adjusted near neutral (e.g., ~7.2–7.4 at 25 °C) in many standard formulas (literature), but exact pH for this item is Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Physical form: Free-flowing powder; upon autoclaving and cooling (≈45–50 °C), becomes pourable; solidifies into firm gel at room temperature (literature).
  • Density, refractive index, logP, dielectric constant, melting/boiling points: Not applicable/undefined for a complex dehydrated blend; Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. Notes:
• Always confirm reconstitution mass/volume and target pH on the item’s CoA/Spec Sheet before preparing plates.

Quality and Grades

• Item-specific grade (from Product Data)

  • Grade/Purity: BioReagent

• What BioReagent grade implies (general context)

  • BioReagent grade materials are intended for biological and microbiological research applications, emphasizing batch-to-batch consistency, low bioburden, and performance in culture workflows. While not a pharmacopeial grade, such media components are blended under quality systems to meet internal specifications for growth performance and clarity when prepared.

• Typical quality attributes for Blood Agar Base (general; not item specifications)

  • Growth performance: Ability to support growth of a broad range of organisms when supplemented appropriately with sterile defibrinated blood; hemolysis differentiation should be readily visible (literature).
  • Clarity/gel strength: Transparent to slightly opalescent gel after sterilization (prior to blood addition) with consistent gelation and surface integrity (literature).
  • pH range after preparation: Commonly near neutral; exact target for this item is Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Additives/stabilizers: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

• Documentation and traceability

  • For lot-specific performance (e.g., growth promotion testing, pH, gel strength), consult the Certificate of Analysis/Specification Sheet. Do not infer limits or numerical specifications beyond those documents.

• Practical note

  • Validate each new lot in your lab’s standard workflows (e.g., QC organisms for hemolysis patterns) before large-scale deployment.

Reaction and Applications

This product is intended for microbiological culture rather than chemical reactions. The key application is the preparation of blood agar plates for cultivation and differentiation of bacteria.

• Core applications (general, literature)

  • Isolation and cultivation of fastidious organisms when supplemented with sterile defibrinated blood (commonly 5–10% v/v), providing growth factors (e.g., hemin) and enabling observation of α-, β-, and γ-hemolysis.
  • Enumeration and purity checks in research and industrial microbiology labs.
  • Differential assessment of hemolytic activity for organisms such as streptococci and staphylococci (literature).

• Practical guidance

  • Reconstitution: Dissolve the specified mass of dehydrated base in purified water with heating and agitation until fully melted/clear (exact mass/volume Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet).
  • Sterilization: Autoclave according to institutional procedures for agar media (literature). Cool to ~45–50 °C, then aseptically add sterile defibrinated blood; mix gently to avoid foaming and bubbles.
  • Plate pouring: Pour into sterile plates, allow to solidify, and dry briefly under sterile conditions to remove surface moisture before use.

• QC organisms (examples from literature; not item-validated):

  • Streptococcus pyogenes (β-hemolysis), Streptococcus pneumoniae (α-hemolysis), Enterococcus faecalis (γ-hemolysis). Always confirm with your internal controls.

• Limitations

  • Not selective; invasive flora may overgrow unless used with additional selective agents or alternative selective media.

Reaction Conditions

This section is interpreted as preparation and culture conditions rather than chemical reaction parameters.

• Medium preparation (general literature; not item-specific)

  • Reconstitution: Suspend the specified mass of dehydrated base in purified water with continuous stirring.
  • Dissolution: Heat to boiling to fully melt agar; avoid scorching. Clarify by gentle swirling.
  • Sterilization: Autoclave according to institutional SOPs for agar media (e.g., 121 °C, validated time; follow your validation documents). Cool to ~45–50 °C before supplementation.
  • Blood addition: Aseptically add sterile defibrinated blood (commonly 5–10% v/v); mix gently to minimize bubbles and foam.
  • Plate pouring: Dispense into sterile Petri dishes; allow to solidify on a level surface. Dry plates as needed before storage/use.

• Incubation parameters (general; organism-dependent)

  • Temperature: Frequently 30–37 °C depending on organism.
  • Atmosphere: Aerobic, 5% CO₂, or microaerophilic as required by the target organism.
  • Duration: 18–48 h typical; some fastidious organisms require longer.

• Quality checks

  • Visual inspection for uniform color and gel integrity; verify absence of contamination on uninoculated control plates.

Note: Exact mass/volume ratios, pH targets, and sterilization times for this item are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet and your lab’s validated SOPs.

Safety and Handling

Guidance below is general; consult the SDS for authoritative hazard, PPE, and disposal information for this specific item.

• Item-specific hazard information (from Product Data)
  • Signal word: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet/SDS.
  • H-statements: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet/SDS.
  • GHS classification/pictograms: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet/SDS.
• General laboratory safety (literature/good practice)
  • PPE: Lab coat, safety glasses, and appropriate gloves when handling dehydrated powder and hot media. Use heat-resistant gloves when pouring plates.
  • Inhalation/ingestion: Avoid creating dust; handle powders in a fume hood or dust-controlled area if needed. Do not ingest. Wash hands after use.
  • Thermal hazards: Hot liquid agar can cause burns; pour plates at ~45–50 °C (literature) to reduce heat hazard and preserve blood integrity when added.
  • Biosafety considerations: Once inoculated, plates may contain viable pathogenic organisms. Handle according to your facility’s Biosafety Level (BSL) practices and local regulations. Decontaminate by autoclaving before disposal.
  • Incompatibilities: Avoid strong oxidizers contacting organic components; keep away from moisture to prevent clumping and microbial contamination.
• First-aid overview (general)
  • Skin/eye contact with powder: Rinse with water; remove contaminated clothing. Seek medical advice if irritation persists.
  • Inhalation of dust: Move to fresh air; seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
• Waste disposal: Follow institutional biohazard procedures for used plates; autoclave or apply validated disinfection prior to discard.

Solvent Selection

This product is a dehydrated culture medium base and is not used as a reagent solvent. However, solvent (water) quality is critical for preparation.

• Applicable medium solvent (general guidance)

  • Use freshly prepared, high-purity water (distilled, deionized, or Type II/Type I as required by your QA system). Avoid high TOC or residual disinfectants (e.g., chlorine), which can impair growth.
  • Dissolution typically requires heating with agitation until the powder fully dissolves and agar melts (literature). Avoid localized scorching.

• Miscibility and polarity

  • The medium is water-based; organic solvents are not used in routine preparation. Do not substitute organic cosolvents, as they can inhibit growth or denature blood components.

• Comparison to alternatives (general)

  • Water grade choice: Type I (ultrapure) offers best consistency for sensitive assays; Type II is widely adequate for routine microbiology. Sterile water is required if aseptic addition is made post-sterilization (e.g., blood addition in sterile hood).

• Practical tips

  • Degas medium (optional) after sterilization if bubbles impede plate pouring.
  • Cool molten base to ~45–50 °C (literature) before adding sterile defibrinated blood to prevent hemolysis artifacts and protein denaturation.

Note: Exact water volume per mass of dehydrated base is Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Storage and Reconstitution

• Item-specific storage (from Product Data)

  • Storage conditions: Room temperature
  • Shipped in: Normal

• Dehydrated medium handling (general)

  • Keep container tightly closed and protected from moisture and light. Minimize time open to air to prevent clumping and environmental contamination.
  • Use clean, dry utensils. Record lot and open date. Follow first-in/first-out inventory.

• Reconstitution guidance (literature; not item-specific)

  • Suspend the specified mass of dehydrated base in purified water. Heat with stirring until fully dissolved and agar melts.
  • Autoclave per your validated cycle. Cool to ~45–50 °C before aseptically adding sterile defibrinated blood.
  • Pour plates, allow to solidify, and store inverted in sealed sleeves or containers to prevent desiccation.

• Storage of prepared plates (general)

  • Store at 2–8 °C, protected from light and dehydration; bring to room temperature before use. Define in-lab shelf-life based on QC data and SOPs.

• Do not freeze dehydrated medium unless specified by the manufacturer.

• Item-specific reconstitution ratios, target pH, and shelf-life: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Structure and Identity

Brief overview: Blood Agar Base is a dehydrated, complex nutrient medium base used in microbiology. It is formulated to be supplemented with sterile defibrinated blood (commonly 5–10% v/v) to produce blood agar plates for cultivation and hemolysis differentiation of bacteria.

• Item-specific facts (from Product Data)
  • SKU: B1523345
  • Product name: Blood Agar Base
  • Grade/Purity: BioReagent
  • Storage conditions: Room temperature; shipped under normal conditions
  • Research use: For research use only
• Identity and composition notes
  • Chemical identity: Complex mixture (peptones/digests, salts, agar). No single molecular formula or molecular weight applies.
  • Molecular formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • CAS, CID, InChIKey, SMILES: Not applicable for a complex medium; not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Structural features (general knowledge)
  • Contains polysaccharide agar (gelling agent), amino acid/peptide sources (e.g., peptones/tryptone), and inorganic salts for osmotic and ionic balance.
  • When supplemented with blood, provides hemin and other growth factors enabling growth of fastidious organisms and visible hemolysis patterns (α/β/γ). The 2D “structure” is not definable due to the heterogeneous composition.

Synthetic Utility

Not applicable in the context of organic or inorganic synthesis. Blood Agar Base is a complex microbiological medium and is not used as a reagent or building block in chemical synthesis.

• Guidance
  • For chemical synthesis tasks (e.g., coupling reactions, polymerizations), select defined reagents and solvents with characterized purity and specifications. Use this product solely for its intended role in culturing microorganisms when supplemented appropriately.

Target Specificity

Not applicable. This product is a culture medium base, not an antibody, probe, or affinity reagent. It does not have an antigen/epitope target, clone, isotype, or species reactivity.

• Functional context (general)
  • When supplemented with blood, it supports growth of a broad range of bacteria, including many fastidious species, and enables differentiation by hemolysis; this is a phenotypic, not molecular, specificity.