BacterPlate™ Chocolate Agar with VCN (CA VCN)

Ready-to-use medium on 90mm plates for the selective culture of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis.
Code: 05010
Packaging: 10 plates/ box or as per customer request.
Storage Conditions: 2–8°C.
Transportation: Ambient temperature.
Shelf Life: 04 months from the date of manufacture.

INTENDED USE

BacterPlate™ Chocolate Agar with VCN (CA VCN) is a selective and enriched medium designed for the cultivation and isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis from clinical specimens. The VCN supplement inhibits the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria other than Neisseria, and fungi, making the medium highly specific for fastidious pathogens. This medium is widely used in clinical diagnostics and quality control procedures in microbiology laboratories.
The typical composition of base medium (Columbia Agar) corresponds to that defined in European (EP), United States (UP) and Japanese (JP) Pharmacopeias.
The packaging with semi-permeable Cellophane film helps balance the humidity of the environment during storage.

PRINCIPLES

Peptones included in the composition of the medium favor the excellent growth of colonies.
Yeast extract is a source of vitamin B complex.
Starch is a detoxifying agent and also an energy source.
The heat treatment of blood in the medium lyses red blood cells, releasing growth factors such as hemin (X factor) and NAD (V factor), which are essential for the growth of certain bacteria.
Vancomycin inhibits the growth of Gram-positive organisms.
Colistin suppresses most Gram-negative bacteria, excluding Neisseria.
Nystatin prevents fungal contamination.

Allow the agar plates to reach room temperature. Dry the plates in an incubator by slightly opening the lid.
Inoculate in order to obtain isolated colonies.
Incubate at 35 – 37 °C, 5 – 10% CO₂ for 18 to 24 hours in optimal conditions for the culture of the inoculated germs.

PRINCIPLES

After incubation for the required duration, observe the colonies growing on the surface of the plate for characteristic traits such as colony size, color, and morphology.
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Small, greyish, translucent colonies with a smooth surface.
- Neisseria meningitidis: Larger colonies with a grey or bluish appearance.
Unwanted contaminants (Gram-positive, Gram-negative, or fungal) should be inhibited.
Identification of the isolated bacteria must be carried out through appropriate subsequent tests

BacterLab ensures the quality of each product batch by testing with ATCC reference strains.