TCBS Agar - Cholera Diagnosis Gold Standard

Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salts Sucrose Agar alkaline pH (8.6), elevated bile salts, sodium citrate, and ox bile create extreme selective environment inhibiting most Gram-positives/negatives while permitting Vibrio growth. Sucrose/thymol blue indicator differentiates fermenters (V. cholerae, yellow colonies) from non-fermenters (V. parahaemolyticus, green/blue).

Critical Public Health Applications

1. Cholera Surveillance: V. cholerae O1/O139 isolation from stool/rectal swabs.

2. Seafood Safety: V. parahaemolyticus enumeration from shellfish.

3. Traveler's Diarrhea: Vibrio species identification.

4. Outbreak Investigation: Rapid Vibrio confirmation.

Selective Excellence

19mm x 15mm x 20ml plates (Cat. 0801900E), 10 pcs/stack. SFDA standards, ISO 13485 facilities. pH 8.6±0.2.

QC: V. cholerae ATCC 14033 (yellow), V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802 (green).

Streamlined Protocol

Direct fecal streaking or alkaline peptone water enrichment. 35°C aerobic 18-24h. Oxidase confirmation of yellow/green colonies.