(CLED Agar) Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient A1 Quality – HX-Media

(CLED Agar) Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient – HX-Media

Product Overview

Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient (CLED Agar) is a non-selective yet differential culture medium specifically formulated for the isolation, enumeration, and differentiation of microorganisms associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs). It is extensively used in clinical microbiology laboratories for routine urine culture analysis.

CLED Agar supports the growth of a wide spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including common urinary pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and other coliform organisms.

A defining characteristic of CLED Agar is its electrolyte-deficient formulation, which effectively prevents the swarming phenomenon of Proteus species. This ensures the development of well-isolated, discrete colonies, which is critical for accurate colony counting and identification in urine cultures.

CLED Agar contains lactose as a fermentable carbohydrate and bromothymol blue as a pH indicator, enabling differentiation of organisms based on their ability to ferment lactose. Acid production from lactose fermentation results in a color change of the medium from green to yellow, allowing clear visual distinction between lactose fermenters and non-fermenters.

Additionally, the presence of L-cystine enhances the growth of cystine-dependent organisms, ensuring optimal recovery of clinically significant bacteria. The medium’s balanced nutrient composition supports robust microbial growth while maintaining clarity for easy interpretation.

CLED Agar is particularly suitable for quantitative urine culture techniques, where bacterial counts are essential for diagnosis. It provides reliable, reproducible, and easy-to-interpret results within 18–24 hours of incubation, making it a preferred choice in diagnostic laboratories.

🔬 Key Features

• Prevents Proteus swarming for accurate colony isolation
• Supports both Gram-positive and Gram-negative urinary pathogens
• Differential based on lactose fermentation
• Clear color-based identification system
• Suitable for quantitative urine culture
• High reproducibility and reliability
• Easy interpretation with minimal expertise

🎯 Applications

• Routine urine culture testing
• Diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Enumeration of bacterial load in urine samples
• Clinical microbiology laboratories
• Hospital and diagnostic centers
• Research and teaching laboratories

🧪 Composition (Typical)

• Peptones : 4.0

• Lactose : 10.0

• Beef Extract : 3.0

• L-Cysteine : 0.128

• Bromothymol blue : 0.02

• Agar : 15.0

• Electrolyte-deficient base : prevents Proteus swarming

• Final pH : 7.3 ± 0.2 at 25°C

🛠️ How to Use

1. Suspend the required amount of medium in distilled water.
2. Heat with constant stirring until completely dissolved.
3. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.
4. Cool to 45–50°C and pour into sterile Petri plates.
5. Allow medium to solidify.
6. Inoculate urine sample using a calibrated loop (e.g., 0.001 mL).
7. Incubate at 35–37°C for 18–24 hours.
8. Count colonies and observe color for identification.

⏳ Storage and Shelf Life

• Store dehydrated medium at 10–30°C in a dry, well-ventilated area
• Keep container tightly closed to prevent moisture absorption
• Protect from direct sunlight and humidity
• Prepared plates should be stored at 2–8°C
• Shelf life: 2–3 years under recommended storage conditions

👍 Ideal For

✔ Routine urine culture screening

✔ Clinical microbiology and diagnostic labs

✔ Differentiation of common UTI pathogens

✔ Samples where Proteus overgrowth is a concern