MUELLER HINTON AGAR (7101) Intended Use Mueller Hinton Agar is used in antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the disk diffusion method. This formula conforms to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS).1 Product Summary and Explanation Mueller Hinton Agar is based on the formula recommended by Mueller and Hinton2 for the primary isolation of Neisseria species. Mueller and Hinton selected pea meal extract agar as a simple transparent medium containing heat stable ingredients.3 During their modification, starch replaced the growth-promoting properties of pea extract, acting as a “protective colloid” against toxic substances.
Bauer, Kirby, Sherris and Tuck4 recommended Mueller Hinton Agar for performing antibiotic susceptibility tests using a single disk of high concentration. This unsupplemented medium has been selected by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)1 for several reasons:5 this medium is low in sulfonamide, trimethoprim and tetracycline inhibitors, provides satisfactory growth of most non-fastidious pathogens and demonstrates batch-to-batch reproducibility.
Mueller Hinton Agar is often abbreviated as M-H Agar, and complies with requirements of the World Health Organization.5 Mueller Hinton Agar is specified in FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual6 for food testing, and procedures commonly performed on aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria.7 A variety of supplements can be added to Mueller Hinton Agar, including 5% defibrinated sheep or horse blood, 1% growth supplement and 2% sodium chloride.
Principles of the Procedure Beef Extract and Acid Hydrolysate of Casein provide nitrogen, vitamins, carbon, and amino acids in Mueller Hinton Agar. Starch is added to absorb any toxic metabolites produced. Agar is the solidifying agent. A suitable medium is essential for testing the susceptibility of microorganisms to sulfonamides and trimethoprim. Antagonism to sulfonamide activity is demonstrated by para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and its analogs. Reduced activity of trimethoprim, resulting in smaller growth inhibition zones and inner zonal growth, is demonstrated on medium possessing high levels of thymide. The PABA and thymine/thymidine content of Mueller Hinton Agar are reduced to a minimum, reducing the inactivation of sulfonamides and trimethoprim. Formula / Liter Beef Extract. 2 g Acid Hydrolysate of Casein .17.5 g Starch .1.5 g Agar.17 g Final pH 7.3 ± 0.1 at 25°C Formula may be adjusted and/or supplemented as required to meet performance specifications. Precaution 1. For Laboratory Use. Directions 1. Suspend 38 g of the medium in one liter of purified water. 2. Heat with frequent agitation and boil for one minute to completely dissolve the medium. 3. Autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature. 4. OPTIONAL: Supplement as appropriate. Pour cooled Mueller Hinton Agar into sterile petri dishes on a level,
horizontal surface to give uniform depth. Allow to cool to room temperature.
5. Check prepared Mueller Hinton Agar to ensure the final pH is 7.3 ± 0.1 at 25°C.
Quality Control Specifications Dehydrated Appearance: Powder is homogeneous, free flowing, and beige. Prepared Appearance: Prepared medium is slightly opalescent with no significant precipitation, and light to medium amber. Expected Cultural Response: Prepare, inoculate and dispense antibiotic disks following the procedure described by NCCLS.1,8,9
The cultures listed should have middle range zone sizes of the concentration tested.8
Microorganism Response & Reactions Enterococcus faecalis ATCC® 29212
growth; zone diameters within published specifications
Escherichia coli ATCC® 25922
growth; zone diameters within published specifications
Escherichia coli ATCC® 35218
growth; zone diameters within published specificationsPseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC® 27853
growth; zone diameters within published specificationsStaphylococcus aureus ATCC®25923
growth; zone diameters within published specificationsStaphylococcus aureus ATCC® 43300
growth; zone diameters within published specifications
The organisms listed are the minimum that should be used for quality control testing.
Test Procedure For a complete discussion on antimicrobic susceptibility testing, refer to procedures outlined in appropriate references. Results Refer to appropriate documents for correct zone sizes. Storage Store the sealed bottle containing the dehydrated medium at 2 - 30°C. Once opened and recapped, place the container in a low humidity environment at the same storage temperature. Protect from moisture and light by keeping container tightly closed. Expiration Refer to the expiration date stamped on the container. The dehydrated medium should be discarded if it is not free flowing, or if the appearance has changed from the original color. Expiry applies to medium in its intact container when stored as directed. Limitations of the Procedure 1.
Numerous factors can affect results: inoculum size, rate of growth, medium formulation and pH. Strict adherence to protocol is required to ensure reliable results.9
Drug inactivation may result from the prolonged incubation times required by slow growers.10
Variation in the concentration of divalent cations, primarily calcium and magnesium affects result of aminoglycoside, tetracycline, and colistin test with P. aeruginosa isolates.7
Packaging Mueller Hinton Agar References 1. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. 1997. Performance standards for antimicrobial disk susceptibility tests. Approved standard M2-A6. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, Wayne, PA. Mueller, J. H., and J. Hinton. 1941. A protein-free medium for primary isolation of gonococcus and meningococcus. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 48:3330-3333. Gordon and Hine. 1916. Br. Med. J. 678. Bauer, A. L., W. M. M. Kirby, J. C. Sherris, and M. Turck. 1966. Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disk method. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 45:493-496. World Health Organization. 1961. Standardization of methods for conducting microbic sensitivity tests. Technical Report Series No. 210, Geneva. Food and Drug Administration. Bacteriological analytical manual, 8th ed., AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD. Wood, G. L., and J. A. Washington. 1995. Antibacterial susceptibility tests: dilution and disk diffusion methods, p. 1327-1341. In Murray, P.R., E. J. Baron, M. A. Pfaller, F. C. Tenover, and R. H. Yolken (eds.). Manual of clinical microbiology, 6th ed. American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. 1996. Protocols for evaluating dehydrated; App. Standard. Wayne PA. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. 1999. M100-S9. Performance Standards for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing; Ninth Informational Supplement. Wayne, PA.
10. Isenberg, H. D. (ed.). 1992. Clinical microbiology procedures handbook, vol. 1, American Society for Microbiology, Washington, D.C. Technical Information Contact Acumedia Manufacturers, Inc. for Technical Service or questions involving dehydrated culture media preparation or performance at (517)372- 9200 or fax us at (517)372-2006.
SUBSTITUTES APPENDIX A OF THE OMAC 1999 OLYMPIC MOVEMENT ANTI-DOPING CODE APPENDIX A PROHIBITED CLASSES OF SUBSTANCES AND PROHIBITED METHODS 1 January 2003 PROHIBITED CLASSES OF SUBSTANCES A. STIMULANTS a Prohibited substances in class A.a include the following examples with both their L- and D-isomers amiphenazole, amphetamines, bromantan, caffeine*, carphe
FOLLICULOGENESIS IN CATTLE J.P. Kastelic Lethbridge Research Centre, Box 3000, Lethbridge, AB, Canada T1J 4B1 PRENATAL FOLLICULAR GROWTH Development of oocytes and follicles begins in utero. Primordial germ cells proliferate by mitosis to form primary oocytes; the first meiotic prophase starts between Days 75 and 80 of pregnancy (Erickson, 1966). At the diplotene stage of meiosis (a
MUELLER HINTON AGAR (7101) 
Expected Cultural Response: Prepare, inoculate and dispense antibiotic disks following the procedure described by