Biolife Italiana Srl Technical Sheet

N °402150 BE –0 09/204 page 1/ 2

TRYPTIC SOY AGAR

Powdered and ready to use general growth medium
for isolation and cultivation of microorganisms

TYPICAL FORMULA (g/l)

Pancreatic Digest of Casein 15
Soy Peptone 5
Sodium Chloride 5
Agar 15

DIRECTIONS FOR POWDERED MEDIUM

Suspend 40g in 1000ml of cold distilled water, heat to boiling with frequent agitation, distribute and
sterilise by autoclaving at 121ºC for 15 minutes.
Final pH 7.3 ± 0.2
DIRECTIONS FOR READY TO USE MEDIUM IN FLASKS
Dissolve the contents of the bottle in a temperature controlled water batch (100°C). Cool to 45-50°C,
mix well and distribute into
Final pH 7.3 ± 0.2

DESCRIPTION
Tryptic Soy Agar is a multipurpose medium, which support the growth of a wide variety of
microorganisms. The formulation meets the requirements of Soybean-Casein Digest Agar Medium
described by USP and EP. Because of the nutritional characteristics, absence of inhibitors, and the
possibility of supplementation with several compounds, this medium is recommended for the isolation
of many microorganisms, for maintaining stock cultures and for the preparation of vaccines. Tryptic
Soy Agar may be supplemented with defibrinated animal blood (at concentrations between 5% and
15%) to provide a more nutritious medium for fastidious organisms and for the detection of their
haemolytic pattern, or with antimicrobials to provide a selective medium for the isolation of specific
microorganisms out of a mixed flora. In some cases (isolation of Neisseria and Haemophilus), blood is
added to the medium and then heated to 80ºC for 10 minutes to obtain a chocolate agar. If Tryptic Soy
Agar is supplemented with 0.7g/l lecithin and 5g/l of Tween 80, the medium may be used as Microbial
Content Test Agar for testing quaternary ammonium compounds. Tryptic Soy Agar is recommended
by USP and EP for aerobic plate count of pharmaceutical products.

TECHNIQUE
The experimental procedure depends on the purpose for which the medium is used. Refer to the
various compendia for the for the details of the procedures.

USER QUALITY ASSURANCE (TRYPTIC SOY AGAR, WITHOUT BLOOD) (30-35°C-48 HRS)
Productivity control
S.aureus ATCC 6538**: growth
E.coli ATCC 8739**: growth
B.subtilis ATCC 6633: growth
**EP 3rd ed. recommended strains

USER QUALITY ASSURANCE (TRYPTIC SOY AGAR + 5% DEF. SHEEP BLOOD) (37°C-24 HRS)
Productivity control
S.pyogenes ATCC 19615*: growth, β-haemolysis
S.pneumoniae ATCC 6305*: growth, α-haemolysis
S.aureus ATCC 25923*: growth
E.coli ATCC 25922*: growth
CAMP Test*:
S.aureus ATCC 25923* or 33862
S.agalactiae ATCC 12386 : positive reaction (arrowhead area of clearing)
S.pyogenes ATCC 19615: negative reaction (no arrowhead formation)
*NCCLS M22-A2 recommended strains.

Biolife Italiana S.r.l. Viale Monza 272, 20128 Milan, Italy. Tel. n° ++39 (0)2 25 209 1, Fax n° ++39 (0)2 25 76 428
E-mail: biolife@masciabrunelli.it ; Web: www.biolifeit.com
Biolife Italiana Srl Technical Sheet
N °402150 BE –0 09/204 page 2/ 2

STORAGE
Dehydrated medium: 10-30°C
User prepared TSA plates: 1 month at 2-8°C
User prepared blood plates: up to 7 days at 2-8°C
User prepared flasks: 1 months at 2-8°C

REFERENCES
• Bailey, W.R. & Scott, E.G. (1974) - Diagnostic Microbiology, 4th edition. St. Louis: C.V. Mosby
Company.
• European Pharmacopoeia, 3rd ed. 2001 Supplement
• NCCLS document M22-A2, 1996. Quality Assurance for Commercially prepared Microbiological
Culture Media-2nd ed.; Approved Standard.
• U.S. Pharmacopoeia 24, NF 19 (2000)

PACKAGING
4021502 Tryptic Soy Agar 500g (12.5 l)
4021504 Tryptic Soy Agar 5kg (125 l)

542150 Tryptic Soy Agar 20 ready to use plates

552150 Tryptic Soy Agar 20 x 8 ml ready to use slanted tubes
522150P Tryptic Soy Agar 24 x 3 ml ready to use slanted tubes
5121502 Tryptic Soy Agar 6 x 100ml ready to use flasks
5121503 Tryptic Soy Agar 6 x 200ml ready to use flasks

Biolife Italiana S.r.l. Viale Monza 272, 20128 Milan, Italy. Tel. n° ++39 (0)2 25 209 1, Fax n° ++39 (0)2 25 76 428
E-mail: biolife@masciabrunelli.it ; Web: www.biolifeit.com