Infusion Agar
Also known as：Blood Agar Base · Blood Agar Base (Infusion Agar) · Heart Infusion Agar · Beef Heart Infusion Agar · HIA
For the cultivation of a wide variety of microorganisms, including fastidious species, and, with the addition of blood, for the determination of haemolytic reactions.
- Category
- Dehydrated Culture Media
- Dissolve per litre
- 45 g
- Pack sizes
- 500 g · 5 kg · 25 kg
- Certifications
- Halal
Data updated：2026-11-06
Overview
Infusion Agar is an agar (solid) medium, a standard general-purpose and enumeration formulation. It is infusion-based nutrition for general and fastidious bacteria. STBIO manufactures it from food-grade raw materials in an ISO 22000 certified facility, with a COA for every batch. This is the Halal-certified version.
Principle
Infusion Agar is a general-purpose medium for the cultivation of a wide range of microorganisms, including many fastidious species.¹ Beef extract and tryptose supply nitrogen, amino acids, vitamins, and growth factors, and sodium chloride maintains the osmotic equilibrium. Agar acts as the solidifying agent. Because the medium contains no added carbohydrate, it is well suited for use as a blood agar base: acid from sugar fermentation does not interfere with haemolytic reactions, which can therefore be read clearly on blood-supplemented plates.² The medium is also used for the maintenance of stock cultures.
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 40 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. Cool to 45-50°C and, where required, aseptically add 5% defibrinated blood. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. 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 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 27853 | good-luxuriant |
Product highlights
- Halal certified, suitable for the Malaysian, Indonesian, and Middle Eastern markets
- Manufactured to the standard formulation, 45 g per litre
- Performance verified against standard control strains before release (Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
- 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
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 45 g per litre of deionised water; preparation and sterilisation conditions are given on the specification sheet.
03Which organisms is it suitable for?
Aerobes, Pathogens, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. See the cultural response table and the specification sheet.
04How is this product prepared?
Suspend 40 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. Cool to 45-50°C and, where required, aseptically add 5% defibrinated blood. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
05How 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. Atlas R. M., 2010. Handbook of Microbiological Media, 4th Ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton.