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• Anaerobic Systems
• Antibiotic Sensitivity Testing
• Culture Media, Supplements and Raw Materials
• • Are there any guidelines for preparation and reconstitution of culture media?
  • Are there any guidelines for sterilising culture media?
  • Can I prepare culture media in a microwave?
  • Can I store selective supplements after reconstitution?
  • How can I re-melt solid media?
  • How long can I store culture media after preparation?
  • How should I dispose of used culture media?
  • How should I test the pH of culture media?
  • My culture medium does not look right - what has gone wrong?
  • My culture medium is not performing correctly - what has gone wrong?
  • Should I boil media before autoclaving?
  • What are the main components of culture media?
  • What exactly is agar?
  • What grade of water should I use to prepare culture media?
  • What is the shelf life of dehydrated culture media after the pot has been opened?
  • What quality control testing should I carry out on culture media?
  • Which blood product should I choose to make blood agar?
• Diagnostic Reagents
• Dipslides
• General
• Toxin Detection

OXOID TECHNICAL SUPPORT DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES

MICROWAVE HEATING OF MEDIA

Oxoid do not recommend the use of microwave ovens for sterilisation or re-melting of media. The reasons for this are:

1. Heating may be uneven.

2. Hot spots can occur in the column of medium leading to superheating and explosion of the containers.

3. Microwave sterilisation is effective only where there is moisture. The inside tops of the containers, if not previously sterilised, may constitute a source of later contamination.