Product Overview
This Chocolate Blood Agar Plate is a ready-to-use, enriched medium designed for the cultivation of fastidious microorganisms, particularly Neisseria and Haemophilus species. The medium is prepared by heating the blood-containing base agar, which lyses the red blood cells and releases intracellular nutrients such as hemin (X factor) and NAD (V factor) into the medium. This gives the agar its characteristic chocolate-brown color and makes it an excellent enriched medium for organisms that cannot grow on standard blood agar.
The base medium combines peptone, yeast extract, beef extract, and sodium chloride to provide a rich nutrient foundation. The addition of 70 mL of sterile defibrinated sheep blood per liter supplies the essential growth factors required by fastidious organisms. Chocolate Agar is widely used in clinical, pharmaceutical, and research microbiology for the isolation of Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Haemophilus influenzae, and other fastidious bacteria.
The 90mm format is suitable for streaking and isolation procedures, and the triple vacuum packaging allows safe transfer into controlled environments.
Intended Use
- Cultivation of Neisseria species, including Neisseria meningitidis.
- Cultivation of Haemophilus species, including Haemophilus influenzae.
- Isolation of other fastidious microorganisms requiring X and V factors.
- Microbiological examination of clinical, environmental, and research samples.
- Educational and reference laboratory use.
Composition (per Liter)
- Peptone: 15.0 g
- Yeast Extract: 4.0 g
- Beef Extract: 4.0 g
- Sodium Chloride: 5.0 g
- Agar: 15.0 g
- Sterile Defibrinated Sheep Blood: 70 mL
- Purified Water: 1,000 mL
- Final pH: 7.2 ± 0.2 at 25°C
Performance Characteristics
- Appearance: Chocolate brown, smooth surface, free from cracks, visible impurities, and bubbles.
- Physicochemical: pH 7.0–7.4; gel strength 500–650 g/cm².
- Sterility: No bacterial growth.
- Growth Promotion: Validated for robust growth with typical colony characteristics for Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae.
Packaging and Storage
- Format: 90mm × 10 plates per pack.
- Fill Volume: 20–25 mL per plate.
- Packaging: Three-layer vacuum packaging for controlled environment transfer.
- Shelf Life: 3 months from date of manufacture.
- Storage: Store at 2–8°C, protected from light. Do not freeze.
