Blood Agar Base

Blood Agar Base (BA Base)

Base Medium for Enriched Blood Agar Preparation
Catalog Number: AS-1144

Product Information

• Catalog Number: AS-1144

• Form: Dehydrated powder

• Prepared medium: Pale amber agar base after sterilisation

• HS Tariff Code: 3821.00 — prepared culture media for development of microorganisms

Overview

Blood Agar Base is a general-purpose basal culture medium designed for the preparation of enriched blood agar by the addition of sterile defibrinated blood. When supplemented with blood, the medium supports the growth of a wide range of fastidious and non-fastidious bacteria and allows for clear observation of hemolytic reactions.

The balanced peptone formulation provides essential nutrients, while the added blood supplies additional growth factors and enables differentiation of organisms based on alpha, beta, or gamma hemolysis. When supplemented with heated (lysed) blood, Blood Agar Base may also be used for the preparation of chocolate agar.

Applications

• Preparation of blood agar with defibrinated blood

• Observation and differentiation of hemolytic bacteria

• Cultivation of fastidious organisms

• Preparation of chocolate agar using heated blood

• Routine microbiology and teaching laboratories

Key Features

• Versatile basal medium for blood-supplemented agar

• Supports clear hemolysis zone development

• Suitable for preparation of both blood agar and chocolate agar

• Reliable and reproducible performance

• Compatible with standard laboratory protocols

Notes on Blood Supplementation

• Sheep blood is commonly used and is suitable for observing hemolysis in organisms such as Streptococcus species

• Horse blood may be preferred for the cultivation of organisms requiring additional growth factors

• The type and quality of blood used can influence growth characteristics and hemolysis patterns

Storage & Handling

• Dehydrated powder: Store at 15–30 °C in a dry, sealed container

• Prepared medium: Store at 2–8 °C

• Protect from moisture and light

• Use prepared plates within recommended laboratory timeframes

Intended Use

For laboratory use only.
Not for medical, food, or veterinary applications.

Quality & Compliance

• Manufactured under controlled conditions

• Batch-to-batch consistency maintained

• COA and SDS available upon request