Brain Heart Infusion Broth
Also known as：BHI · BHI Broth
For the cultivation of a wide variety of fastidious and non-fastidious microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, and moulds, and for the preparation of inocula.
- Category
- Dehydrated Culture Media
- Dissolve per litre
- 37 g
- Pack sizes
- 500 g · 5 kg · 25 kg
- Certifications
- ISO 22000 · Halal
- Standard methods
- ISO 6888 (enrichment)
Data updated：2026-11-07
Brand cross-reference：BD Difco Brain Heart Infusion · Oxoid Brain Heart Infusion Broth · Merck BHI Broth（ISO 6888 (enrichment)） Brand cross-reference
Overview
Brain Heart Infusion Broth (BHI Broth) is an exceptionally rich general-purpose liquid medium for fastidious bacteria such as streptococci and pneumococci, as well as aerobes, anaerobes, yeasts and moulds. It is commonly used for blood culture, supplementary enrichment in sterility testing and strain maintenance, and is a frequent choice for seed cultures that need high cell mass.
Principle
Brain Heart Infusion Broth is a highly nutritious, general-purpose liquid medium for the cultivation of a wide range of organisms, including fastidious streptococci, pneumococci, and other demanding bacteria, as well as yeasts and moulds.¹ Calf brain infusion, beef heart infusion, and proteose peptone supply nitrogen, amino acids, vitamins, and the growth factors required by fastidious organisms. Dextrose provides the carbon and energy source, sodium chloride maintains the osmotic equilibrium, and disodium hydrogen phosphate buffers the medium. The broth is widely used for the preparation of inocula for antimicrobial susceptibility and other tests, for blood culture and enrichment procedures, and for the cultivation of organisms from food and environmental samples.² Growth is indicated by turbidity.
Choosing a general-purpose or enumeration medium
Plate Count Agar is used for total viable counts in food, water, and environmental samples. Nutrient Broth and Tryptic Soy media are the general-purpose choices for non-fastidious bacteria, with the latter richer and also used for sterility testing and environmental monitoring. Brain Heart Infusion is the richest of the three and suits fastidious organisms such as streptococci. Use the agar form for enumeration and the broth for propagation.
Directions
Suspend 37 g of powder in 1 L of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Dispense into tubes or flasks. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Avoid overheating. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
Cultural response
| Test organism | ATCC | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Streptococcus pyogenes | 19615 | good-luxuriant |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 25923 | good-luxuriant |
| Escherichia coli | 25922 | good-luxuriant |
| Candida albicans | 10231 | good-luxuriant |
Product highlights
- Food-grade raw materials, produced in an ISO 22000 certified facility
- Halal certified, suitable for the Malaysian, Indonesian, and Middle Eastern markets
- Manufactured to the standard formulation, 37 g per litre
- Performance verified against standard control strains before release (Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans)
- Available in 500 g / 5 kg / 25 kg, from laboratory to industrial scale
- COA, specification sheet, and technical data sheet available; samples on request
- Manufactured in Taiwan with reliable supply
Food grade versus laboratory grade
Most culture media suppliers use laboratory-grade raw materials, which are held to lower standards for heavy metal residues, microbial contamination control, and traceability. That is adequate for pure research but not for applications with stricter raw-material requirements. STBIO manufactures with food-grade raw materials throughout, in a facility certified to ISO 22000 food safety management.
- Food microbiology laboratories working to ISO 17025 or equivalent requirements
- Biotech manufacturers exporting fermentation products and needing full raw-material traceability
- Organisations with ESG or compliance audit requirements across their supply chain
- Companies sourcing both Halal and non-Halal products who need one consistent material grade
FDA BAM methods
This product corresponds to a medium used in the chapters of the US FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM), the reference methods for FDA regulatory testing. Follow the current online edition of each chapter.
- FDA BAM Chapter 5: SalmonellaBAM Chapter 5Confirmation / biochemicalNamed in the method as：Brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, serology
- FDA BAM Chapter 12: Staphylococcus aureusBAM Chapter 12Confirmation / biochemicalNamed in the method as：Brain heart infusion (BHI) broth, coagulase test
BAM specifies methods and media formulations; it does not certify brands. Add supplements as the chapter requires, and verify media against reference strains under your quality system.
Frequently asked questions
01Does this medium meet FDA BAM methods?
BAM specifies methods and formulations, not brands. This product corresponds to a medium used in: FDA BAM Chapter 5: Salmonella（BAM Chapter 5）: Confirmation / biochemical; FDA BAM Chapter 12: Staphylococcus aureus（BAM Chapter 12）: Confirmation / biochemical. It is manufactured to the standard formulation and ships with a COA per batch; add supplements as the chapter requires and follow the current online edition.
02Which medium should I use for total viable counts?
Total viable counts in food and water normally use Plate Count Agar with the pour-plate method at 30 °C. Follow the incubation conditions specified by the method you are working to.
03How much powder per litre?
Use 37 g per litre of deionised water; preparation and sterilisation conditions are given on the specification sheet.
04Which organisms is it suitable for?
Aerobes, Pathogens, Mold, Yeast, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans. See the cultural response table and the specification sheet.
05What are the equivalent brand products and standard methods?
Cross-reference: BD Difco Brain Heart Infusion, Oxoid Brain Heart Infusion Broth, Merck BHI Broth. Standard methods: ISO 6888 (enrichment). Formulations may differ slightly between makers; refer to the specification sheet.
06Can it be used for food-grade applications?
Yes. It is made from food-grade raw materials in an ISO 22000 certified facility and is suitable for culturing starters for fermented products that are consumed directly.
07How is this product prepared?
Suspend 37 g of powder in 1 L of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Dispense into tubes or flasks. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Avoid overheating. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
08Is there a non-Halal version?
Yes. This is the Halal certified version; an equivalent standard version is also available.
09How do I request a bulk quotation, and can you provide a COA?
Yes. This product is available in 500 g, 5 kg, 25 kg. Tell us your application and volume when requesting a quotation; we reply within one working day and can supply the COA, specification sheet, and technical data sheet.
Further reading
- FDA BAM Culture Media Cross-Reference: Which Media Each BAM Chapter Uses and the STBIO EquivalentAerobic plate count, coliforms and E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio, Clostridium perfringens, yeasts and moulds and Cronobacter: the media named in each FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual chapter, matched to Taiwan-made dehydrated media for US laboratories qualifying a second source.
- Which Culture Media Do Taiwan FDA Food Microbiology Methods Specify? Cross-Reference for 21 Announced MethodsAerobic plate count, coliforms, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and moulds, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium perfringens and Cronobacter: the media named in each Taiwan FDA (TFDA) announced method, matched to Taiwan-made products.
References
- 1. MacFaddin J. F., 1985. Media for Isolation-Cultivation-Identification-Maintenance of Medical Bacteria, Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore.
- 2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bacteriological Analytical Manual, Media M24, Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) Broth and Agar.