COLUMBIA AGAR (as per USP/EP/JP/BP)

Columbia Blood Agar Base used as a general-purpose nutritious medium was devised by Ellner et al from Columbia University, which was further enriched by the addition of sheep blood. It can also be used for the isolation of organisms by addition of various supplements. Columbia Agar is prepared in accordance with the microbial limit testing harmonized methodology of USP/EP/BP/JP/IP. This medium is recommended to check the presence of Clostridium spp. in non-sterile products like food, dietary, nutritional supplements related products. Columbia agar base can be used to prepare lactose milk egg-yolk agar for the isolation of fastidious Clostridia. Al-Jumaili and Bint (1981) recommended the addition of blood, cycloserine and cefoxitin to Columbia agar (base) for the isolation of Clostridium difficile. The inclusion of bacitracin makes the enriched Columbia Agar Medium selective for the isolation of Haemophilus species from clinical specimens, especially from upper respiratory tract.

for detection of Clostridium sporogenes from pharmaceutical products.