Yeast Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar (YGC), Selective Medium for Yeast & Mold Isolation, AS-1381
Yeast Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar (YGC)
Selective Medium for Yeast & Mold Isolation | Catalogue No. AS-1381
Chloramphenicol-selective dehydrated agar for reliable recovery and enumeration of yeasts and molds from food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, water, and environmental samples.
Yeast Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar (YGC Agar, AS-1381) is a dehydrated selective culture medium for the isolation, cultivation, and enumeration of yeasts and molds from food, beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, water, and environmental samples. Chloramphenicol (0.1 g/L) inhibits Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while the elevated glucose concentration (20 g/L) and slightly acidic pH (6.6) support robust recovery of a broad range of yeasts and filamentous molds.
YGC Agar is compatible with ISO 21527 workflows for yeast and mold enumeration in food and animal feeding stuffs, and is widely used in pharmaceutical microbial limit testing, cosmetic QC, and environmental monitoring. AuSaMicS AS-1381 is equivalent to Oxoid CM0920 and BD Difco 212490, manufactured and packed locally in Melbourne with same-week dispatch.
Chloramphenicol (0.1 g/L) is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit. At 0.1 g/L it effectively suppresses both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria without significant inhibitory effect on fungi, which use 80S ribosomes insensitive to chloramphenicol.
Why not acidification? Earlier fungal selective media relied on lowering pH to ~3.5 to suppress bacteria. This approach inhibits some acid-sensitive yeast and mold species and introduces a variable that reduces recovery rates. Chloramphenicol selectivity at near-neutral pH (6.6) gives consistently higher and more accurate fungal recovery across a wider range of species.
Why not Rose Bengal? Rose bengal restricts colony spread — useful in heavily contaminated samples — but can inhibit some fungal species and interferes with morphology assessment. YGC Agar is preferred when accurate colony counts and species identification are the priority.
| Organism | Growth | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans ATCC 10231 | ✓ Good to excellent | Food, pharmaceutical, environmental QC |
| Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9763 | ✓ Excellent growth | Beverage microbiology, food testing |
| Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404 | ✓ Good to excellent | Pharmaceutical microbial limit testing |
| Penicillium spp. | ✓ Good growth | Food spoilage investigation |
| Fusarium spp. | ✓ Good growth | Environmental and grain mycology |
| Rhizopus spp. | ✓ Moderate to good | Food spoilage, environmental monitoring |
| Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 | ✗ Inhibited | Selectivity indicator |
| Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 | ✗ Inhibited | Selectivity indicator |
| Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 | ✗ Inhibited | Selectivity indicator |
| Medium | Selective Agent | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| YGC Agar (AS-1381) ★ | Chloramphenicol 0.1 g/L | Broad yeast & mold recovery; pharma, food, environmental QC; species ID | Colonies may spread — limit incubation to 5 days for dense samples |
| Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol Agar | Chloramphenicol + Rose Bengal dye | Heavily contaminated samples; colony spread restriction | Rose bengal may inhibit some species; interferes with morphology |
| Dichloran Rose Bengal Agar (DRBC) | Dichloran + Rose Bengal | ISO 21527-2 food testing; restricted colony spread | Some mold inhibition; not suitable for all pharma applications |
| Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) | None / low pH optional | General fungal isolation; clinical dermatophytes | Not selective for bacteria — cannot be used in non-sterile samples without supplement |
| Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) | None / pH adjustment | General mold sporulation; food testing | Bacterial overgrowth in mixed samples |
Prepared plates: Store at 2–8°C in sealed bags, protected from light. Use within 2 weeks of preparation.
Shelf life: Stated on label — typically 3–5 years from manufacture under recommended conditions.
| Brand | Product Name | Cat. No. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxoid (Thermo Fisher) | Yeast Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar | CM0920 | Imported |
| BD Difco | YM Agar / Chloramphenicol Glucose Agar | 212490 | Imported |
| HiMedia | Yeast Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar | M403 | Imported |
| Merck (Sigma-Aldrich) | YGC Agar | 1.16000 | Imported |
| AuSaMicS | YGC Agar | AS-1381 | Melbourne stock · COA · same-week dispatch |
| Product Name | Yeast Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar (YGC Agar) |
| Catalogue Number | AS-1381 |
| Synonyms | YGC Agar; Chloramphenicol Glucose Yeast Extract Agar; Yeast Mold Selective Agar |
| Medium Type | Selective solid culture medium (agar) |
| Form | Dehydrated powder; prepared medium: pale amber agar |
| Equivalents | Oxoid CM0920 | BD Difco 212490 | HiMedia M403 | Merck 1.16000 |
| Standard | ISO 21527 compatible |
| HS / AHECC Code | 3821.00.00 |
| Ingredient | g/L | CAS | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose (D-Glucose) | 20.0 | 50-99-7 | Primary carbon and energy source; elevated concentration supports rapid, robust fungal growth |
| Yeast Extract | 5.0 | 8013-01-2 | B-complex vitamins, amino acids, nucleotides, and accessory growth factors essential for fungal metabolic activity |
| Chloramphenicol | 0.1 | 56-75-7 | Broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic — inhibits bacterial 50S ribosomal protein synthesis; selective inhibition of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria without effect on fungi |
| Agar | 14.9 | 9002-18-0 | Solidifying agent; gel at standard concentration supports colony development and morphology assessment |
| Parameter | Specification | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance (powder) | Beige to light cream, free-flowing powder | Visual |
| Appearance (prepared medium) | Pale amber, clear agar | Visual after dissolution |
| pH (prepared, 25°C) | 6.6 ± 0.2 | Potentiometric (calibrated electrode) |
| Moisture Content | ≤ 5.0% | Loss on drying, 105°C |
| Dissolution | Complete at 40 g/L with heating | Visual inspection |
| Storage (powder) | Cool, dry, tightly sealed, protected from moisture and light | — |
| Storage (prepared plates) | 2–8°C, sealed bags, protected from light. Use within 2 weeks. | — |
| Test Organism | ATCC Strain | Expected Result (25°C / 5 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans | ATCC 10231 | Good to excellent growth — cream to white yeast colonies |
| Aspergillus brasiliensis | ATCC 16404 | Good to excellent growth — black conidial heads characteristic |
| Saccharomyces cerevisiae | ATCC 9763 | Good growth — white to cream colonies |
| Escherichia coli | ATCC 25922 | Inhibited — no significant growth |
| Staphylococcus aureus | ATCC 25923 | Inhibited — no significant growth |
| Bacillus subtilis | ATCC 6633 | Inhibited — no significant growth |
YGC Agar operates through two complementary mechanisms:
| Mechanism | Component | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Antibiotic selectivity | Chloramphenicol 0.1 g/L | Binds 50S bacterial ribosomal subunit; bacteriostatic for Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms; fungi use 80S ribosomes — unaffected |
| Nutritional enrichment | Glucose 20 g/L + Yeast Extract 5 g/L | High glucose supports rapid fungal carbon metabolism; yeast extract provides vitamins and growth factors for diverse fungal species including slow-growing molds |
| pH optimisation | pH 6.6 ± 0.2 | Near-neutral pH optimal for most fungi; slightly below neutral provides mild additional suppression of some bacteria without restricting acid-sensitive fungal species |
1. Mossel DAA, Visser M, Mengerink WHJ. A comparison of media for the enumeration of molds and yeasts in foods and beverages. Laboratory Practice. 1962;11:109–112. [Original YGC medium reference]
2. ISO 21527-1:2008. Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of yeasts and moulds — Part 1: Colony count technique in products with water activity greater than 0.95. ISO, Geneva.
3. ISO 21527-2:2008. Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of yeasts and moulds — Part 2: Colony count technique in products with water activity less than or equal to 0.95. ISO, Geneva.
4. European Pharmacopoeia (EP) 11th Edition. 2.6.12 Microbiological Examination of Non-Sterile Products. Council of Europe, Strasbourg.
5. ISO 11133:2014. Culture media — Preparation, production, storage and performance testing. ISO, Geneva.
Download TDS (PDF)| Product Name | Yeast Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar (YGC Agar) |
| Catalogue No. | AS-1381 |
| Supplier | AuSaMicS Pty Ltd | ABN 56 676 640 467 |
| Address | 31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia |
| Phone / Email | +61 412 520 598 | support@ausamics.com.au |
| Emergency | Poisons Information Centre: 13 11 26 (Australia, 24 hr) |
| Intended Use | Selective culture medium for yeast and mold isolation and enumeration. For laboratory use only. |
Chloramphenicol: Suspected carcinogen (Category 2). May cause blood disorders (aplastic anaemia) with repeated or prolonged exposure. Handle with appropriate PPE. Avoid skin contact, inhalation of powder dust, and eye contact.
| GHS Classification | Carcinogenicity Category 2 (H351 — Suspected of causing cancer) due to chloramphenicol content. The product as formulated (0.1 g/L in dehydrated powder) presents low acute risk at intended use concentrations. |
| Signal Word | WARNING |
| Hazard Statements | H351: Suspected of causing cancer (chloramphenicol component) |
| Precautionary Statements | P201: Obtain special instructions before use. P202: Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read. P280: Wear protective gloves and eye protection. P308+P313: If exposed or concerned, seek medical advice. |
| Component | CAS | g/L | GHS Hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose | 50-99-7 | 20.0 | Not classified |
| Yeast Extract | 8013-01-2 | 5.0 | Not classified |
| Chloramphenicol | 56-75-7 | 0.1 | H351 Suspected carcinogen (Cat. 2) |
| Agar | 9002-18-0 | 14.9 | Not classified |
| Section | Summary |
|---|---|
| 4. First Aid | Inhalation: remove to fresh air. Skin: wash with soap/water immediately — remove contaminated clothing. Eye: flush water 15 min — seek medical attention. Ingestion: rinse mouth; seek medical advice if symptomatic. |
| 5. Fire Fighting | Not flammable. CO2, dry chemical, foam, water spray. Combustion: CO2, CO, NOx, HCl (from chloramphenicol). |
| 6. Accidental Release | Wear full PPE. Avoid dust generation. Collect powder carefully in sealed containers. Label as chloramphenicol-containing waste. Do not allow to enter drains or waterways. |
| 7. Handling & Storage | Handle in dedicated area with LEV. Wear nitrile gloves, safety spectacles, lab coat. Store cool, dry, tightly sealed. Protect from UV. Keep from oxidising agents. Prepared plates: 2–8°C, sealed, protected from light. |
| 8. Exposure Controls / PPE | Nitrile gloves (minimum 0.1 mm). Safety spectacles or chemical splash goggles. Lab coat. Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) when handling powder. OEL for chloramphenicol: as low as reasonably practicable. |
| 9. Physical & Chemical | Powder: beige, free-flowing. Prepared: pale amber agar. pH 6.6 ± 0.2. Not flammable, not explosive, not oxidising. |
| 10. Stability | Stable under recommended conditions. Chloramphenicol degrades on prolonged exposure to UV light or strong alkaline conditions. Avoid excess heat during preparation. |
| 11. Toxicology | Chloramphenicol: suspected carcinogen (H351); associated with aplastic anaemia in humans with repeated exposure. Low acute toxicity at formulated concentration but precautionary measures required due to carcinogenicity classification. |
| 12. Ecology | Chloramphenicol is an antimicrobial — avoid discharge to waterways or soil. Environmental contamination may promote antimicrobial resistance in environmental microorganisms. |
| 13. Disposal | Dispose as chemical waste containing a classified hazardous substance (chloramphenicol). Inoculated plates: autoclave before disposal. Consult VIC EPA guidelines for chloramphenicol-containing waste disposal. Do NOT dispose to domestic drain. |
| 14. Transport | Not classified as dangerous goods under ADG, IATA, or IMDG at the formulated concentration. No UN Number. Transport in sealed, labelled containers. |
| 15. Regulatory | Australian WHS Regulations 2023 / GHS 7th Edition. H351 classification due to chloramphenicol. HS 3821.00.00. For laboratory use only. Chloramphenicol is a Schedule 4 substance in some contexts — confirm applicable requirements with your institutional biosafety officer. |
| 16. Other Info | SDS-AS-1381-YGC | Issue: January 2026 | Review: January 2028 | Prepared by Hassan Salimi, AuSaMicS Pty Ltd. |
Each batch of Yeast Glucose Chloramphenicol Agar (AS-1381) is manufactured under quality-controlled conditions and released with a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis confirming compliance with all physicochemical and microbiological performance specifications per ISO 11133:2014.
| # | Test Parameter | Specification | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Appearance (powder) | Beige to light cream, free-flowing | Visual | Conforms |
| 2 | Appearance (prepared medium) | Pale amber, clear agar | Visual | Conforms |
| 3 | pH (prepared, 25°C) | 6.6 ± 0.2 | Potentiometric | Conforms |
| 4 | Moisture Content | ≤ 5.0% | LOD 105°C | Conforms |
| 5 | Candida albicans ATCC 10231 (positive) | Good to excellent growth within 5 days at 25°C | Colony count / visual | Conforms |
| 6 | Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 16404 (positive) | Good to excellent growth within 5 days at 25°C | Colony count / visual | Conforms |
| 7 | Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9763 (positive) | Good growth within 3–5 days at 25°C | Colony count / visual | Conforms |
| 8 | Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (negative) | Inhibited — no significant growth | Visual | Conforms |
| 9 | Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (negative) | Inhibited — no significant growth | Visual | Conforms |
| 10 | Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 (negative) | Inhibited — no significant growth | Visual | Conforms |
✓ ISO 11133:2014 compliant QC — 3 positive + 3 negative control organisms per batch
✓ ISO 21527 compatible formulation
✓ COA, TDS, and full GHS SDS with every order
✓ Australian stock — same-week dispatch, no import lead times