Columbia Blood Agar Base as an Alternative Medium for the Elek Test

[摘要] Diphtheria is still a health problem in Indonesia. TheWorld Health Organization (WHO) data show that Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest diphtheria rates(1). The causative agents of diphtheria (Corynebacteriumdiphtheriae, C. ulcerans, and C. pseudotuberculosis) can produce the diphtheria toxin (2-4). The ability of bacteria tosynthesize the diphtheria toxin (bacterial toxigenicity) canbe examined in the laboratory. The Elek test has been recognized by the WHO and is commonly used worldwide to examine bacterial toxigenicity. However, the Elek test needsspecific basic reagents that are not always available in microbiology laboratories (5, 6). Herein, we evaluated theuse of Columbia blood agar base (CBAB) as an alternativereagent for the Elek test. Columbia blood agar base is areagent that is easily available in microbiology laboratories.

[学科分类] 微生物学和免疫学

[关键词] Corynebacterium diphtheriae;Diphtheria Toxin;Laboratories