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  5. BAM Media M24: Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) Broth and Agar (Equivalent media are available from Difco and BBL)
  1. Laboratory Methods (Food)

BAM Media M24: Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) Broth and Agar (Equivalent media are available from Difco and BBL)

Media Index for BAM

January 2001

Medium 1

Calf brain, infusion from 200 g
Beef heart, infusion from 250 g
Proteose peptone (Difco) or
polypeptone (Bioquest)
10 g
NaCl 5 g
Na2HPO4* 2.5 g
Dextrose 2.0 g
Distilled water 1 liter

Dissolve ingredients of Medium 1 in distilled water with gentle heat.

*Difco does not specify waters of hydration.

Medium 2

Brain heart-infusion 6.0 g
Peptic digest of animal tissue 6.0 g
NaCl 5.0 g
Dextrose 3.0 g
Pancreatic digest of gelatin 14.5 g
Na2HPO4** 2.5 g
Distilled water 1 liter

Suspend ingredients of Medium 2 in distilled water and boil for 1 min to completely dissolve.

**BBL does not specify waters of hydration.

For both Medium 1 and Medium 2, dispense broth into bottles or tubes for storage. Autoclave 15 min at 121°C. Final pH, 7.4 ± 0.2. Commercially available BHI is acceptable.

To prepare brain heart infusion agar, add 15 g agar to 1 liter BHI broth. Heat to dissolve agar before dispensing into bottles or flasks. Autoclave 15 min at 121°C.

For use with halophilic Vibrio spp., add NaCl to a final concentration of 2-3%.


Original Source: Bacteriological Analytical Manual, 8th Edition, Revision A, 1998.

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