Cary-Blair’s Delivery Medium , 250g

Description: 

Oxoid Cary-Blair Medium is a transport medium for the collection and shipment of clinical specimens based on the formulation of Cary and Blair¹. The low nutrient content of the medium and utilis ation of phosphate as a buffering agent instead of sodium glycerophosphate, prevents bacterial overgrowth by Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii and Klebsiella aerogenes. 

This sometimes happens when using Stuart Transport Medium CM0111 because these org anisms possess specific glycerophosphate dehydrogenases². The low oxidation-reduction potential of the medium ensures bacterial survival over long periods³. 

Cary and Blair¹ reported recovery of cholera vibrios up to 22 days, salmonellae and shigellae after 49 days and Yersinia pestis up to 75 days storage at 28°C. 

Cary-Blair Medium is particularly suitable in field epidemiological surveys for Vibrio parahaemolyticus, especially where rectal swabs are to be transported to a central diagnostic laboratory 4,5. Survival of Vibrioparahaemolyticus in Cary-Blair medium has been reported after a 35-day period at a temperature of 70-80°F6. 

The medium can be modified to improve the transport and survival of Campylobacter species. 

(i) by the addition of 1% w/v sodium py ruvate (10 g/litre) to the formula7. 

(ii) reducing the agar content from 5g to 1.6g per litre 8. 

For the transport of fastidious anaerobic bacteria the medium may be prepared as directed and filled into long narrow screw-capped tubes9. It may also be prepared as a pre-reduced anaerobic sterilised medium (PRAS)10. Methods of producing PRAS media are described by Holdeman and Moore 11. 

Specification: 

250g