Thiosulfate Citrate Bile Salts Sucrose Agar, TCBS Agar

A selective and differential culture medium known as TCBS Agar was developed specifically for the purpose of isolating and identifying Vibrio species, particularly cholera. The medium ingredients promote biochemical differentiation and selective development. Essential nutrients are supplied by peptone, yeast extract, sodium citrate, sodium thiosulfate, and ox bile, while at the same time they prevent the formation of Gram-positive bacteria. A sulfur source is sodium thiosulfate, while an indication of hydrogen sulfide is ferric ammonium citrate. One fermentable carbohydrate that contributes to the varied colors of colonies is sucrose. Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio alginolyticus are examples of sucrose-fermenting Vibrio species that form yellow colonies because of acid generation, while Vibrio parahaemolyticus and other sucrose-nonfermenting species create blue-green colonies. The growth of non-Vibrio microbiota is successfully suppressed by the inhibitory characteristics of TCBS agar, which enriches for the target species.

Storage
Keep the container at 15-30 °C and prepared medium at 2-8 °C.