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CDC Anaerobe 5% Sheep Blood Agar is used for the isolation and cultivation of fastidious and slow growing, obligately anaerobic bacteria from a variety of clinical and nonclinical materials. It also supports good growth of most aerobic, facultatively anaerobic and microaerophilic bacteria if incubated appropriately.

The isolation of obligately anaerobic bacteria from clinical and nonclinical materials requires the use of selective, nonselective and enrichment media.¹ The choice of media to be employed is based upon the type of material and the results of direct microscopic observation. Nonselective media are used to isolate organisms present in low numbers and to provide an indication of the numbers and types of organisms present in the specimen or sample. Selective media are employed to facilitate recovery of the desired organisms present in mixed populations.

CDC Anaerobe 5% Sheep Blood Agar was formulated by Dowell et al. of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an enriched, nonselective medium for the isolation and cultivation of a wide variety of obligately anaerobic microorganisms, particularly those found in clinical materials.^2-5 The medium employs Trypticase Soy Agar supplemented with additional agar, yeast extract, vitamin K₁, hemin, cystine and 5% sheep blood. Improved growth of Prevotella melaninogenica, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Clostridium haemolyticum, as well as certain strains of Actinomyces israelii and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, has been demonstrated on this medium.³ Furthermore, less smooth to rough colonial variation has been reported on this medium than on Schaedler Blood Agar.⁶

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.

For in vitro Diagnostic Use.

If excessive moisture is observed, invert the bottom over an off-set lid and allow to air dry in order to prevent formation of a seal between the top and bottom of the plate during incubation.

Pathogenic microorganisms, including hepatitis viruses and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, may be present in clinical specimens. "Standard Precautions"^9-12 and institutional guidelines should be followed in handling all items contaminated with blood and other body fluids. After use, prepared plates, specimen containers and other contaminated materials must be sterilized by autoclaving before discarding.