Brain Heart Infusion Agar
Also known as：BHIA · BHI Agar · Brain Heart Agar
For the cultivation of a wide variety of fastidious and non-fastidious microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, and moulds.
- Category
- Dehydrated Culture Media
- Dissolve per litre
- 52 g
- Pack sizes
- 500 g · 5 kg · 25 kg
- Certifications
- ISO 22000
Data updated：2026-11-06
Overview
Brain Heart Infusion Agar is an agar (solid) medium, a standard general-purpose and enumeration formulation. It is one of the richest general-purpose formulations, used for fastidious organisms such as streptococci and for enriching clinical samples. STBIO manufactures it from food-grade raw materials in an ISO 22000 certified facility, with a COA for every batch.
Principle
Brain Heart Infusion Agar is a highly nutritious, general-purpose 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 medium may be supplemented with defibrinated blood for the cultivation of especially fastidious organisms, or with antimicrobial agents for the selective isolation of fungi. It is also used for the preparation of inocula and the maintenance of stock cultures.²
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 52 g of powder in 1 L of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Avoid overheating. Cool to 45-50°C and, where required, aseptically add 5-10% defibrinated blood or selective agents. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
Product highlights
- Food-grade raw materials, produced in an ISO 22000 certified facility
- Manufactured to the standard formulation, 52 g per litre
- 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
Frequently asked questions
01Which 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.
02How much powder per litre?
Use 52 g per litre of deionised water; preparation and sterilisation conditions are given on the specification sheet.
03Which organisms is it suitable for?
Aerobes, Pathogens, Yeast, Mold. See the cultural response table and the specification sheet.
04Can 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.
05How is this product prepared?
Suspend 52 g of powder in 1 L of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Avoid overheating. Cool to 45-50°C and, where required, aseptically add 5-10% defibrinated blood or selective agents. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
06Is there a Halal certified version of this product?
Yes. This is the standard version; a Halal certified version is also produced from food-grade raw materials with Halal documentation, for compliant sourcing in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Middle East.
07How 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.
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.