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Selenite-F Broth is used as an enrichment medium for the isolation of Salmonella from feces, urine, water, foods and other materials of sanitary importance.

Selenite-F Broth was devised by Leifson,¹ who demonstrated that selenite was inhibitory for coliforms and certain other microbial species, such as fecal streptococci, present in fecal specimens, and thus, was beneficial in the recovery of Salmonella species. He found that the inhibited strains would eventually breakthrough, but if subcultures were made from the enrichment broth after 8-12 h incubation, the isolation of Salmonella was possible without overwhelming growth of many members of the intestinal flora.

Enrichment media are routinely employed for detection of pathogens in fecal specimens since the pathogens usually represent only a small percentage of the intestinal flora. Selenite-F Broth and the related medium, Selenite Cystine Broth, are recommended for use in the recovery of Salmonella with subcultures being made after 12-18 h incubation. For detection of Shigella, GN Broth is a satisfactory enrichment medium.² Campylobacter Thioglycollate Medium with 5 Antimicrobics is recommended for specimens suspected to contain Campylobacter jejuni when low numbers of organisms are expected because of delayed transport to the laboratory or because the acute stage of disease has passed.³

See "Quality Control Procedures."

Quality Control requirements must be performed in accordance with applicable local, state and/or federal regulations or accreditation requirements and your laboratory's standard Quality Control procedures. It is recommended that the user refer to pertinent CLSI (formerly NCCLS) guidance and CLIA regulations for appropriate Quality Control practices.

A single electrode of sufficiently small size to fit into the tubes should be used to determine the pH potentiometrically of tubed media. The tip of the electrode should be placed below the surface of broth media.

For in vitro Diagnostic Use.

Tubes with tight caps should be opened carefully to avoid injury due to breakage of glass.

Pathogenic microorganisms, including hepatitis viruses and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, may be present in clinical specimens. "Standard Precautions"^4-7 and institutional guidelines should be followed in handling all items contaminated with blood and other body fluids. After use, prepared tubes, specimen containers and other contaminated materials must be sterilized by autoclaving before discarding.