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03 June 2003

SAFER, ENHANCED RECOVERY OF LEGIONELLA SPECIES

Oxoid Limited has introduced a safer, more effective alternative to GVPC supplement (recommended in ISO11731 – Water Quality) for the detection of Legionella species. New Oxoid Legionella ( GVPN ) Selective Supplement has the same formulation as GVPC supplement, except that the toxic component, cycloheximide , has been replaced by the safer natamycin .

Cycloheximide was added to the original formulation to suppress the growth of fungi. Natamycin is also an effective anti-fungal agent, commonly used in the food industry to control the growth of undesirable moulds on the surface of cheese. Natamycin is less toxic than cycloheximide , making it safer to use in culture procedures, and has been shown to be a suitable substitute in a range of agar media (ref 1).

In trials, GVPN was shown to recover all Legionella species at least as well as GVPC (ref 2). Furthermore, there was evidence that the recovery of autofluorescent strains and the inhibition of competitor flora were enhanced using GVPN .

Oxoid Legionella ( GVPN ) Selective Supplement (SR0215E) is intended for use with Legionella CYE Agar Base (CM0655) and BCYE Growth Supplement (SR0110) for the detection and enumeration of Legionella species from environmental water samples.

For further information about Oxoid Legionella ( GVPN ) Selective Supplement and other products in the Oxoid range for the detection of Legionella species, telephone: +44 (0) 1256 841144, fax: +44 (0) 1256 329728, email: val.kane@oxoid.com or visit the Oxoid website at www.oxoid.com.

References:

1.   Pedersen, J.C. (1992) App and Environ Microbiol 58(3):1064-1066

2.   Oxoid Limited, Poster presentation (folio LT0848A)