Sabouraud Dextrose Agar

Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA)

Selective Fungal Culture Medium for Yeasts & Molds
Catalog Number: AS-1341

Overview

Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) is a selective, general-purpose solid culture medium formulated for the cultivation, isolation, and enumeration of yeasts and molds. Its acidic pH (~5.6) combined with a high dextrose concentration strongly promotes fungal growth while suppressing most bacterial contaminants.

SDA is one of the most widely used fungal media worldwide and is routinely employed in clinical diagnostics, pharmaceutical quality control, cosmetic microbiology, food safety testing, and environmental monitoring. It is especially effective for the recovery of Candida albicans, dermatophytes, and other pathogenic or environmental fungi, while supporting pigment production and sporulation for visual differentiation.

Key Features & Benefits

• Highly selective for fungi due to acidic pH and high dextrose

• Excellent recovery of yeasts and molds, including Candida and dermatophytes

• Supports spore and pigment formation for morphological identification

• Suitable for clinical, industrial, and QC laboratories

• Compatible with antibiotic supplementation (e.g. chloramphenicol) for contaminated samples

• Meets international pharmacopoeial requirements (USP / EP / JP) for microbiological limit testing

Typical Applications

Food Microbiology

• Enumeration of yeasts and molds in baked goods, dairy, and processed foods

Pharmaceutical Quality Control

• Microbiological limit testing of non-sterile products (USP / EP / JP compliant)

Cosmetic Microbiology

• Quality assurance and stability testing of cosmetic and personal care products

Clinical Diagnostics

• Isolation of Candida albicans, dermatophytes, and other pathogenic fungi

Environmental Monitoring

• Detection of airborne and surface-borne fungal spores

Principle of the Medium

Sabouraud Dextrose Agar combines a high carbohydrate content with an acidic environment, selectively favouring fungal growth while inhibiting bacteria. Peptones supply essential nitrogen, amino acids, and vitamins, while agar provides a firm surface for colony development and morphological observation.

Optional antimicrobial agents (such as chloramphenicol) may be added to further suppress bacterial contamination in heavily contaminated samples.

Typical Composition

• Dextrose: Primary energy source for fungal metabolism

• Peptones: Nitrogen, amino acids, vitamins, and growth factors

• Agar: Solidifying agent for plate-based culture

• Final pH: ~5.6 at 25 °C

(Exact formulation supplied as a dehydrated medium.)

Preparation (Typical)

1. Suspend the required amount of dehydrated medium in purified water

2. Heat with agitation until completely dissolved

3. Sterilise by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 minutes

4. Cool to 45–50 °C

5. Add antibiotics if required, mix gently, and pour plates

Storage & Stability

• Dehydrated medium: Store 15–30 °C, dry and tightly sealed

• Prepared plates: Store at 2–8 °C, inverted and protected from light

• Shelf life: Refer to product label; use within recommended timeframe

Intended Use

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