Brain Heart Infusion Agar may be recommended for the cultivation of streptococci, Neisseria and other fastidious organisms. Seth1 described the use of Oxoid Brain Heart Infusion with agar for the isolation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Oxoid Brain Heart Infusion Agar was designed to be equivalent in performance.
The addition of blood and antibiotics makes Brain Heart Infusion Agar suitable for the isolation of the tissue phase of Histoplasma capsulatum and other pathogenic fungi, including Coccidioides immitis2,3. For the selective isolation of fungi, without blood, cyclohexamide 0.5mg/ml and chloramphenicol 0.05mg/ml of Brain Heart Infusion Agar may be added4,5.
Directions
Suspend 47g in 1 litre of distilled water. Bring to the boil to dissolve completely. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri dishes. For blood agar, cool to 50°C and enrich with 10% v/v sterile defibrinated blood.
Storage conditions and Shelf life
Store the dehydrated medium at 10-30°C and use before the expiry date on the label.