Mast Blood Agar Base 500g

Mast Blood Agar Base (B.A.B.) – General Purpose Microbiology Medium

Mast Blood Agar Base (B.A.B.) is a high-quality, general-purpose culture medium designed for the cultivation of a wide range of microorganisms. When supplemented with sterile defibrinated blood, it supports the growth of fastidious organisms and clearly demonstrates typical hemolytic reactions. This medium is suitable for routine bacterial culture, isolation, and differentiation of hemolytic bacteria in clinical, diagnostic, and research laboratories.

It can also be used to prepare heated blood (“chocolate”) agar, ideal for the cultivation of fastidious bacteria such as Haemophilus spp. and Neisseria spp., showing superior growth compared to many other blood agar bases.

Directions for Use

For Blood Agar Plates:

1. Suspend 37.5g of powder in 1 litre of distilled or deionized water (or as per sachet instructions).

2. Bring to a boil and sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes (15 psi).

3. Cool the base to 50°C.

4. Add 5–7% sterile defibrinated blood aseptically.

5. Mix gently to disperse the blood and pour into sterile Petri dishes.

For Chocolate Agar Plates (Heated Blood Agar):

1. Add 7% defibrinated blood to the base at 75°C.

2. Maintain at this temperature for 10 minutes while gently agitating.

3. Pour into plates or alternatively, hold poured plates at 55°C for 1–2 hours to prepare heated blood agar.

Applications

• Routine bacterial culture of non-fastidious and fastidious organisms

• Differentiation of hemolytic bacteria (alpha, beta, gamma hemolysis)

• Preparation of heated (“chocolate”) agar for Haemophilus and Neisseria species

• Clinical, diagnostic, and research laboratories

Advantages

• Supports growth of fastidious and non-fastidious bacteria

• Clearly demonstrates hemolytic activity

• Can be used to prepare both standard blood agar and chocolate agar

• Reliable and reproducible results for laboratory testing

Mast Blood Agar Base (B.A.B.) is an essential medium for microbiology laboratories, providing consistent and high-quality growth for routine culture, hemolysis detection, and the cultivation of fastidious organisms.