Antibiotic Assay Medium No. 2 – HX-MEDIA

Product Overview

Antibiotic Assay Medium No. 2 is a standardized microbiological culture medium specifically formulated for the quantitative determination of antibiotic potency using microbiological assay techniques, particularly the agar diffusion (cup-plate or cylinder-plate) method.

This medium supports the luxuriant and uniform growth of a wide range of antibiotic assay microorganisms, ensuring reliable and reproducible results during antibiotic testing. It is widely used in pharmaceutical laboratories, research institutions, and quality control departments for evaluating the efficacy and concentration of various antibiotics.

The formulation contains carefully balanced nutrients such as peptones and other growth factors that promote optimal microbial growth without interfering with the diffusion of antibiotics through the agar matrix. Its consistent composition ensures compliance with pharmacopeial standards (such as IP, USP, BP), making it suitable for regulatory testing.

🔬 Key Features

• Standardized formulation recommended for microbiological assay procedures

• Reproducible performance, supporting consistent organism growth

• Clear and uniform medium, ideal for diffusion-based assays

• Suitable for regulatory and QC environments in pharmaceutical testing

🎯 Applications

• Microbiological potency assays for certain antibiotics

• Quality control testing in pharmaceutical production

• Research and laboratory studies requiring uniform bacterial growth for assay comparison

• Method validation and calibration of antibiotic assay procedures

🧪 Composition (Typical)

• Beef extract – nitrogen and growth factors

• Yeast extract – vitamins and amino acids

• Peptone – peptides and nitrogen source

• Dextrose – carbon and energy source

• Mineral salts – support metabolism

• pH ~6.0 before sterilization

🛠️ How to Use

1. Dissolve the recommended amount of medium in distilled water and mix until fully dissolved.

2. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 minutes.

3. Cool, pour into sterile plates or tubes, and inoculate with test organism or antibiotic sample.

4. Incubate at the appropriate temperature (commonly 30 °C) and observe growth or inhibition zones.

⏳Storage and Shelf Life

• Dehydrated medium: Store sealed at 2–8 °C, away from moisture and light; shelf life typically 2–3 years.

• Prepared medium: Store at 2–8 °C; use within 2–4 weeks, discarding if contamination or changes in appearance occur.

👍 Ideal For

✔ Antibiotic potency assays (e.g., penicillin, streptomycin)

✔ Quality control testing in pharmaceutical production

✔ Microbiological research requiring standardized assay conditions

✔ Regulatory compliance and method validation in antibiotic testing