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Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) is a general-purpose liquid medium used in the cultivation of fastidious and nonfastidious microorganisms, including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, from a variety of clinical and nonclinical materials.

The broth medium which contains 6.5% sodium chloride is used to differentiate the enterococci from nonenterococcal group D streptococci.

BHI Broth is used for the cultivation of a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts and molds.¹

BHI with 6.5% Sodium Chloride is used to differentiate the enterococci (e.g., E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. durans and E. avium) from the nonenterococcal species (S. gallolyticus and S. equinus) by the 6.5% salt tolerance test.²

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.

Brain Heart Infusion with 6.5% Sodium Chloride contains 60 g/L of sodium chloride in addition to the ingredients listed above.

For in vitro Diagnostic Use.

Caution should be exercised in reporting direct Gram stain and/or other direct microbiological stain results on tissue specimens processed with this medium due to the possible presence of nonviable organisms in the culture medium.

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"^3-6 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.