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Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) l AS-1341 l Ausamics
$25.00 AUD
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Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA)
Selective Fungal Culture Medium for Yeasts & Moulds | Pharmaceutical, Clinical, Food & Environmental | Cat. No. AS-1341
Cat. No. AS-1341 pH 5.6 ± 0.2 65 g/L Dextrose 40 g/L Autoclave 121°C / 15 min ✓ USP / EP / JP / BP Compliant ✓ BD Difco 210950 Equivalent 🇦🇺 Made in Melbourne ⚡ Same-Week Dispatch
Cat. No.
AS-1341
pH (25°C)
5.6 ± 0.2
Dissolution
65 g/L
Dextrose
40.0 g/L
Sterilisation
121°C / 15 min
📄 Full DocumentationCOA, TDS & SDS every batch
🇦🇺 Australian StockNo import delays
⚡ Same-Week DispatchMelbourne warehouse
🔬 Technical SupportDirect from our team
Overview & Scientific Background
Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) is one of the most widely used fungal culture media in the world — first described by the French dermatologist Raymond Sabouraud in the early twentieth century for the isolation of dermatophytes, and later modified by Carlier to produce the formulation now referenced in all major pharmacopoeias. AuSaMicS AS-1341 is formulated to the harmonised USP/EP/JP/BP specification, making it suitable for pharmacopoeial microbiological limit testing as well as routine clinical, food, and environmental mycology.
The medium's selectivity rests on two properties: high dextrose concentration (40 g/L) providing an abundant carbon source that fungi exploit far more efficiently than most bacteria, and acidic pH (~5.6) that is permissive for the majority of fungi but inhibitory to most Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The result is a medium that supports luxuriant fungal growth — including pigment production and sporulation useful for morphological identification — while suppressing most bacterial contamination without antibiotics.
Mode of Action — Why Fungi Grow and Bacteria Don't
High Dextrose (40 g/L) — Fungal Metabolic Advantage: Most bacteria prefer glucose concentrations of 1–5 g/L; at 40 g/L the osmotic effect creates mild physiological stress that favours osmotolerant fungi over typical bacterial flora. Yeasts and moulds have inherently higher osmotolerance and take full advantage of the abundant carbon supply.
Acidic pH (5.6 ± 0.2) — Bacterial Inhibition: The optimal pH for most pathogenic bacteria is 6.5–7.5. At pH 5.6, bacterial growth rate is substantially reduced or eliminated. Fungi grow optimally across a wide pH range (2.5–7.5) and are unaffected by the medium's acidity.
Peptones — Nitrogen Source: The dual-peptone base (peptic digest of animal tissue + pancreatic digest of casein, or mycological peptone depending on formulation) provides free amino acids, short peptides, vitamins, and accessory growth factors for diverse fungal species — including fastidious clinical fungi.
Acidic pH (5.6 ± 0.2) — Bacterial Inhibition: The optimal pH for most pathogenic bacteria is 6.5–7.5. At pH 5.6, bacterial growth rate is substantially reduced or eliminated. Fungi grow optimally across a wide pH range (2.5–7.5) and are unaffected by the medium's acidity.
Peptones — Nitrogen Source: The dual-peptone base (peptic digest of animal tissue + pancreatic digest of casein, or mycological peptone depending on formulation) provides free amino acids, short peptides, vitamins, and accessory growth factors for diverse fungal species — including fastidious clinical fungi.
Target Organisms
Yeast
Candida albicans
Cream, smooth colonies; germ tube test for confirmation. Clinical isolate, USP/EP QC organism.
Yeast
Candida spp.
C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata; morphological differentiation by colony appearance
Dermatophyte
Trichophyton spp.
T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes; characteristic pigment and texture for skin/nail/hair isolates
Dermatophyte
Microsporum spp.
M. canis, M. gypseum; Colony morphology, powder/cottony texture, yellow reverse pigment
Mould
Aspergillus brasiliensis
ATCC 16404 — USP/EP/JP pharmacopoeial QC organism for fungal media validation
Mould
Aspergillus spp.
Environmental and food spoilage moulds; characteristic conidial head morphology
Mould
Penicillium spp.
Blue-green powdery colonies; food spoilage and environmental monitoring
Yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Brewery, bakery, and fermentation QC; rapid growth at 25–30°C
Applications
💊
Clinical Diagnostics
Candida, dermatophytes, pathogenic fungi from patient specimens
💊
Pharmaceutical QC
USP <62>, EP 2.6.13, JP microbiological limit testing
🍕
Food Safety
Yeast and mould enumeration in dairy, bakery, processed foods
💄
Cosmetic QC
ISO 21149, ISO 21150, ISO 18415 cosmetic microbiological testing
🌿
Environmental Monitoring
Airborne fungal spore monitoring, surface sampling, cleanroom testing
🏭
Industrial Hygiene
Food processing plant environmental monitoring, water quality
Antibiotic Supplementation Guide
Base SDA suppresses most bacteria via pH alone. For heavily contaminated specimens, add one of the validated antibiotic combinations below aseptically after autoclaving and cooling to 50°C:
Chloramphenicol (0.05 g/L) Broadest use — suppresses Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Compatible with USP/EP/JP QC requirements. Most widely used supplement for food and pharmaceutical testing.
Chloramphenicol (0.4 g/L) + Cycloheximide (0.05 g/L) Ajello formulation — cycloheximide suppresses many environmental moulds and allows selective recovery of dermatophytes. Note: cycloheximide inhibits Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus.
Gentamicin + Chloramphenicol For heavily contaminated clinical specimens (Dolan formulation). Broader Gram-negative suppression including aminoglycoside-susceptible flora.
No supplementation Base SDA pH 5.6 is sufficient for most pharmaceutical QC, cosmetics testing, and specimens with low bacterial background. Required for USP/EP/JP harmonised media tests.
⚠️ Cycloheximide note: Cycloheximide inhibits Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Allescheria boydii. Do not use cycloheximide-supplemented SDA when these organisms are the target or when broad environmental mould recovery is needed.
SDA vs Comparable Fungal Media
| Medium | pH | Key Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDA (AS-1341) ★ | 5.6 ± 0.2 | High dextrose 40 g/L; pigment & sporulation support | Universal fungal isolation; USP/EP/JP pharmacopoeial QC |
| Potato Dextrose Agar (AS-1330) | 5.1 ± 0.2 | Potato infusion; exceptional sporulation | Mould sporulation, food/beverage spoilage yeasts |
| SDA + Chloramphenicol | 5.6 ± 0.2 | Antibacterial supplemented; same formula | Contaminated clinical/food specimens with high bacterial load |
| SDA + Cycloheximide | 5.6 ± 0.2 | Selective for dermatophytes; inhibits opportunistic moulds | Dermatophyte isolation from skin, nail, hair |
| Malt Extract Agar | 5.5 ± 0.2 | Malt peptone base; complex carbohydrates | Brewery QC; industrial yeast and mould enumeration |
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Why is SDA's dextrose concentration so high (40 g/L)?
The original Sabouraud formulation used 40 g/L dextrose specifically to exploit the osmotolerance of fungi relative to bacteria. Most bacteria are physiologically stressed at this concentration, while yeasts and moulds metabolise the abundant carbon efficiently. The high sugar also lowers the water activity slightly, contributing to selectivity. Note: the BD Difco and Oxoid formulations both use 40 g/L dextrose.
❓ What temperature should SDA be incubated at?
For most applications: 25–28°C for 5–7 days for environmental/food moulds and yeasts. 37°C for 24–48h for Candida from clinical specimens (accelerates colony development). 25–30°C for up to 4 weeks for dermatophytes (slow-growing). Check your specific method's incubation requirements — USP/EP specify 20–25°C / 5 days for yeast/mould limit testing.
❓ Is AS-1341 equivalent to BD Difco 210950 and Oxoid CM0041?
Yes — AS-1341 is formulated to the same composition: dual peptones (Peptic Digest of Animal Tissue + Pancreatic Digest of Casein) or Mycological Peptone depending on the lot, Dextrose 40 g/L, Agar 15 g/L, pH 5.6 ± 0.2, dissolution 65 g/L. Full COA supplied with every batch.
❓ Can SDA be used for USP <62> / EP 2.6.13 microbiological limit testing?
Yes — AS-1341 meets the harmonised USP/EP/JP requirements for yeast and mould culture media (Sabouraud Dextrose Agar). QC organisms specified: Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404. Growth promotion must be confirmed per your pharmacopoeial method before use.
❓ Should I add chloramphenicol before or after autoclaving?
Always after autoclaving, aseptically. Prepare a chloramphenicol stock solution (e.g. 5 mg/mL in ethanol), filter-sterilise (0.22 µm), and add to cooled agar (45–50°C) at 10 mL/L to achieve 50 mg/L (0.05 g/L). Chloramphenicol is heat-stable but the aseptic addition prevents any re-contamination risk.
Cross-Reference / Equivalents
| Manufacturer | Product Name | Cat. No. |
|---|---|---|
| BD Difco | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar | 210950 |
| Thermo Scientific / Oxoid | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar | CM0041 |
| Merck Millipore | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar | 1.05438 |
| HiMedia | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar | M063 |
| Neogen (Acumedia) | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar | 7150A |
Related Products
Product Specifications
| Product Name | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) |
| Catalogue Number | AS-1341 |
| Synonyms | SDA; Sabouraud Agar; Sabouraud Glucose Agar; Mycological Agar; Carlier's Modification Sabouraud Agar |
| Commercial Equivalents | BD Difco 210950 | Oxoid CM0041 | Merck 1.05438 | HiMedia M063 |
| Medium Type | Selective solid fungal culture medium (agar-based) |
| Dissolution | 65 g/L in distilled or deionised water |
| Final pH at 25°C | 5.6 ± 0.2 |
| Sterilisation | Autoclave 121°C for 15 minutes |
| Appearance (powder) | Beige to cream, free-flowing homogeneous powder |
| Appearance (prepared agar) | Light amber to cream, firm; slightly opalescent |
| Storage (powder) | 15–30°C, dry, tightly sealed, away from direct sunlight |
| Storage (prepared plates) | 2–8°C, inverted, protected from light and desiccation; use within 2 weeks |
| Pharmacopoeial Standards | USP <62> | EP 2.6.13 | JP | BP — Harmonised Microbiological Limit Test Medium |
| HS Tariff Code | 3821.00.00 |
Formula — Per Litre (BD Difco 210950 / Oxoid CM0041 Reference)
| Ingredient | g / L | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Peptic Digest of Animal Tissue | 5.0 | Nitrogen, amino acids, growth factors — primary peptone source |
| Pancreatic Digest of Casein (Tryptone) | 5.0 | Free amino acids; tryptophan; supplementary peptide source |
| Dextrose (D-Glucose) | 40.0 | Primary carbon & energy source; high concentration favours osmotolerant fungi |
| Agar | 15.0 | Solidifying agent; colony isolation and morphological observation |
| Total | 65.0 g/L | pH 5.6 ± 0.2 at 25°C — Autoclave 121°C / 15 min |
ⓘ Some SDA formulations use Mycological Peptone (10 g/L as a single peptone source) instead of the dual peptic/pancreatic digest system. Both formulations meet USP/EP/JP requirements. The pH, dextrose, and agar concentrations are identical across all major manufacturers.
Preparation Protocol
1
Suspend 65 g of dehydrated SDA (AS-1341) in 1 litre of purified or distilled water.
2
Heat with frequent agitation. Bring to a boil for 1 minute until fully and evenly dissolved.
3
Sterilise by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.
4
Cool to 45–50°C. If adding antibiotics (chloramphenicol, cycloheximide), add aseptically at this stage and mix gently.
5
Pour approximately 20 mL per 90 mm Petri dish on a level surface. Allow to solidify.
6
Store prepared plates inverted at 2–8°C, protected from light. Use within 2 weeks.
Incubation Conditions by Application
| Application | Temperature | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeast & mould enumeration (food/pharma) | 20–25°C | 5 days | USP/EP/JP harmonised method; invert plates |
| Candida spp. (clinical) | 35–37°C | 24–48h | Faster colony development; germ tube test for C. albicans ID |
| Dermatophytes (skin, nail, hair) | 25–28°C | Up to 4 weeks | Observe weekly; colony pigment and texture for identification |
| Environmental monitoring | 25–28°C | 5–7 days | Settle plates or contact plates; ISO 14698 cleanroom sampling |
| Cosmetic testing (ISO 21149) | 20–25°C | 5 days | Count yeast and mould colonies separately |
| Aspergillus brasiliensis (QC) | 20–25°C | 5 days | ATCC 16404; USP/EP validation organism for fungal media |
Literature & References
| # | Reference |
|---|---|
| 1 | United States Pharmacopeia (USP). <62> Microbiological Examination of Nonsterile Products: Tests for Specified Microorganisms. USP-NF; current edition. |
| 2 | European Pharmacopoeia (EP). 2.6.13 Microbiological Examination of Non-sterile Products. EDQM; current edition. |
| 3 | BD Difco & BBL Manual, 2nd ed. Becton Dickinson; 2009. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, Cat. 210950. |
| 4 | Ajello L, et al. A case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by a new species of Phialophora. Mycologia. 1974;66(3):490. [Cycloheximide + chloramphenicol supplementation] |
| 5 | ISO 21149:2017. Cosmetics — Enumeration and detection of aerobic mesophilic bacteria. Geneva: ISO; 2017. |
| 6 | ISO 11133:2014. Culture media performance testing. Geneva: ISO; 2014. |
📄 Full 16-section GHS SDS available (Australian WHS Regulations 2023 / GHS 7th Edition) — support@ausamics.com.au
Section 1 — Identification
| Product Name | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) |
| Catalogue No. | AS-1341 |
| Supplier | AuSaMicS Pty Ltd | ABN 56 676 640 467 |
| Address | 31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia |
| Emergency | Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26 (24 hr) |
| Phone | +61 412 520 598 | support@ausamics.com.au |
Section 2 — Hazard Identification (GHS 7th Ed / WHS 2023)
| GHS Classification | NOT classified as a hazardous substance under Australian WHS Regulations 2023 at intended use concentrations. |
| Signal Word | None required |
| Hazard Statements | None required |
| Other Hazards | Combustible dry powder. Dust may cause mild respiratory irritation. High dextrose (sugar) component — not a significant hazard at laboratory handling levels. |
Composition Summary
| Component | g/L | CAS | Hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peptic Digest of Animal Tissue | 5.0 | 91079-38-8 | Not hazardous |
| Pancreatic Digest of Casein | 5.0 | 91079-38-8 | Not hazardous |
| Dextrose (D-Glucose) | 40.0 | 50-99-7 | Not hazardous |
| Agar | 15.0 | 9002-18-0 | Not hazardous |
| Respiratory PPE | P1 particulate filter when weighing bulk powder (dust generation) |
| Eye Protection | Safety glasses when handling dry powder |
| Skin | Nitrile gloves when handling inoculated culture plates |
| First Aid — Inhalation | Fresh air. No significant hazard expected from brief exposure. |
| First Aid — Eyes | Irrigate with water ≥10 min if dust contacts eyes. Seek advice if irritation persists. |
| Waste | Autoclave all inoculated plates (121°C / 15 min) before disposal. Fungal cultures — particularly moulds — can produce infective spores. Handle in biological safety cabinet where required. |
| Transport | Not dangerous goods — ADG, IMDG, IATA |
⚠️ Biosafety — Fungal Spores: Some pathogenic fungi cultured on SDA (including Aspergillus fumigatus, Trichophyton spp., Microsporum spp., dimorphic fungi) may produce infective spores that are easily dispersed in air. Examination of fungal cultures must be carried out in a biological safety cabinet. Consult your institutional biosafety policy and applicable state WHS requirements before culturing any clinical fungal isolate.
Quality Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance (powder) | Beige to cream, free-flowing, homogeneous powder | Visual |
| Appearance (prepared agar) | Light amber to cream, firm, uniform gel; slightly opalescent | Visual after dissolution |
| pH (prepared, 25°C) | 5.6 ± 0.2 | pH meter (calibrated) |
| Dissolution | Complete at 65 g/L with heating; boil 1 minute for full agar dispersion | Visual |
| Gel Strength | Firm, uniform; no syneresis on prepared plates | Physical observation |
| Moisture Content | ≤5.0% (w/w) | Loss on drying |
| Growth promotion — Candida albicans ATCC 10231 | Good growth; cream-coloured smooth colonies within 48h at 25°C; ≤100 CFU inoculum | ISO 11133:2014 / USP method |
| Growth promotion — Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404 | Good growth; dark brown/black conidial head within 5 days at 25°C; ≤100 CFU/spore inoculum | ISO 11133:2014 / USP method |
| Selectivity (bacterial inhibition) | Reduced or no growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 at 35°C due to pH 5.6 inhibition | Plate selectivity test |
| Batch COA | Available for every production lot | Included with every order |
Pharmacopoeial Compliance
| USP <62> | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar — harmonised medium for yeast and mould limit testing in non-sterile products |
| EP 2.6.13 | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar — European Pharmacopoeia harmonised method |
| Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar — harmonised with USP/EP |
| British Pharmacopoeia (BP) | Sabouraud Dextrose Agar — compliant |
| ISO 21149:2017 | Cosmetics — Enumeration of aerobic mesophilic bacteria |
| ISO 11133:2014 | Culture media performance testing |
| ISO 14698 | Cleanrooms — Biocontamination control (environmental monitoring) |
Manufacturing & Documentation
Manufactured by AuSaMicS Pty Ltd
31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia | ABN 56 676 640 467
✓ Formulated to BD Difco 210950 / Oxoid CM0041 / USP-EP-JP reference specification
✓ Batch-level QC per ISO 11133:2014 — pH, growth promotion, appearance
✓ COA, TDS, SDS included with every order
✓ Australian stock — same-week dispatch, no import delays
✓ Technical support from our microbiology team
31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia | ABN 56 676 640 467
✓ Formulated to BD Difco 210950 / Oxoid CM0041 / USP-EP-JP reference specification
✓ Batch-level QC per ISO 11133:2014 — pH, growth promotion, appearance
✓ COA, TDS, SDS included with every order
✓ Australian stock — same-week dispatch, no import delays
✓ Technical support from our microbiology team
⚠️ For laboratory use only. Not for food, veterinary, therapeutic, or direct human use. Handle inoculated fungal cultures in a biological safety cabinet per institutional biosafety requirements.