M-Tech Diagnostics Ltd

CHROMagar, Paris under the direction of Dr.Alain Rambach manufacture the most comprehensive range of chromogenic media available for use in detection of clinically important pathogens. The products are supplied in the U.K. through M-Tech Diagnostics Ltd. from their site in Warrington, Cheshire.

Included in the range are media for the detection of pathogens responsible for urinary tract infection, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Candida albicans, Salmonella, E.coli, E.coliO157:H7 and the emerging ESBL E.coli. Chromogenic media are simply prepared and provide clear, easily read results in which a presumptive identification can be made on the basis of colony colour saving time and additional expense.

CHROMagar Candida

For the pre-identification of clinically important Candida species, M-Tech provides CHROMagar Candida. Using CHROMagar Candida species specific chromogenic substrata and with procedures identical to those used in classical agar culture methods : prepare CHROMagar candida petri plates according to manufacturers instructions, innoculate and incubate.CHROMagar Candida species.

CHROMagar Candida offers rapid and reliable species detection and differentiation. Easily distinguishable colonies from different species thinks to the colouring they have aquired on CHROMagar Candida:

• Candida albicans - green
• Candida tropicalis - metalic blue
• Candida krusei - rose

Unrivaled accuracy is found on CHROMagar Candida for the identification of C.albicans. Easy detection of mixed cultures is demonstrated by colony colours, and panoramic detection is particularly useful for monitoring intensive care patients. Results are readable under normal lighting.

MRSA Detection: CHROMagar MRSA

CHROMagar MRSA is a chromogenic medium, for the isolation of specimens allowing direct differentiation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by colony colour. CHROMagar MRSA  is ideal for isolation of specimens allowing direct differentiation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by colony colour.

Using CHROMagar MRSA, a specific chromogenic medium for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is simple, with procedures identical to those used in classical culture methods.

The search for MRSA includes detection of S.aureus but Mannitol fermentation-based traditional meda leads to many false positive and false negative results. CHROMagar MRSA has an unrivaled specificity for detecting S.aureus after only 24h.

In the search of MRSA, Oxacillin supplemented media lead to many false negatives (in particular, heterogeneous or low resistance Methicillin resistant strains) while CHROMagar MRSA has an unrivaled sensitivity for detecting MRSA.

Rapid Detection of MRSA

Easily distinguishable mauve colonies which are clearly differentiated from other bacterial species which give blue and colourless colonies. The mauve colonies of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus thus detected can be studied directly by serotyping and biochemical strip tests for confirmation and epidemiological follow up.

Results are readable under normal lighting.

• Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - mauve
• Other bacterial colonies - inhibited, blue or colourless
• Pathogen Classification: CHROMagar Orientation

CHROMagar Orientation is designed for the isolation and (simultaneous) differentiation of urinary tract pathogens. Rapid species detection and differentiation of urinary tract pathogens including gram positive bacteria with CHROMagar Orientation, and differentiation of colonies due to the colour they have acquired:

• E.coli - rose
• Klebsiella - metallic blue
• Enterococcus - turquoise blue
• Proteus - brown
• S.aureus - opaque cream
• S.saprophyticus - opaque pink

You may find that CHROMagar Orientation can replace the combination of C.L.E.D agar and MacConkey agar.

Plastic Sample Bags

Also available are Whirl-Pak^®sample bags and products for sample collection and transport, swabs and sponges for hygiene and environmental monitoring.