SABOURAUD MALTOSE AGAR

Code: CM0541

an acid medium for the isolation of dermatophytes, other fungi and yeasts

Typical Formula*	gm/litre
Mycological peptone	10.0
Maltose	40.0
Agar	15.0
pH 5.6 ± 0.2 @ 25°C

^{* Adjusted as required to meet performance standards}

Directions
Suspend 65g in 1 litre of distilled water. Bring to the boil to dissolve completely. Sterilise by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Mix well and pour in to sterile Petri dishes.

Description
This medium differs from Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (CM0041) only in the carbohydrate incorporated. Sabouraud Maltose Agar may be used, with or without antibiotics, where a maltose medium is preferred.

Sabouraud Maltose Agar may be modified to form a selective indicator medium for the isolation of Candida albicans by the addition of Tergitol-7, bromocresol purple, potassium tellurite and triphenyltetrazolium chloride ( Chapman¹ ).

Storage conditions and Shelf life
Store the dehydrated medium at 10-30°C and use before the expiry date on the label.
Store the prepared medium at 2-8°C.

Appearance
Dehydrated medium: Straw coloured, free-flowing powder
Prepared medium: Light straw to straw coloured gel

Quality control

Positive controls:	Expected results
Candida albicans ATCC® 10231 *	Good growth; cream colonies
Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC® 16404 *	White mycelium, black spores
Negative control:
Uninoculated medium	No change

* This organism is available as a Culti-Loop®

Precautions
Some of the pathogenic fungi may produce infective spores which are are easily dispersed into the laboratory. Such organisms should be examined only within a protective cabinet.
The combination of cycloheximide and chloramphenicol inhibits many pathogenic fungi. However, the mycelial phase of Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Sporothrix schoenckii and Blastomyces dermatitidis is not inhibited by these antibiotics when incubated at 25-30°C .
Note the precautions in handling cycloheximide described in HAZARDS section