Oxoid™ SS Agar Modified

Selectively isolate, differentiate Shigella and Salmonella species from pathological specimens and suspected foodstuffs with Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ SS Agar Modified (Dehydrated). SS Agar Modified is designed to overcome the difficulties faced by SS agar. The improved formulation includes an alteration to the bile salt mixture, peptone, and pH value, improving its performance in the growth of shigellae and improved colony size for salmonellae with improved blackening at the center.

Salmonella and Shigella are major causes of bacterial enteric illness with transmission occurring via the fecal-oral route, person-to-person contact, or by the ingestion of contaminated food or water. SS Agar Modified is ideal for screening samples containing mixed flora and suspected of harboring enteric pathogens, e.g., medical specimens or food products.

• Easy-to-read: shigellae form transparent colonies while salmonellae form transparent colonies with black centers
• Selective: selective inhibitory components brilliant green, bile salts, thiosulphate, and citrate inhibit Gram-positive organisms and non-target coliforms.

Although widely used, SS Agar has been criticized because of excessive inhibition of Shigella species.

Investigation has shown that modification to the formulation by alterations to the bile salt mixture, peptone and pH value considerably improve its performance in the growth of shigellae without too much increased growth of commensal organisms.

Salmonella colonies are also larger with improved blackening at the center. The change in formulation has reduced the number of g/L from 63g to 57g.

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Remel™ and Oxoid™ products are now part of the Thermo Scientific brand.