Wednesday, September 10, 2008

E-test

E-test also known as epsilometer test is an exponential gradient testing methodology. The E-test which is quantitative method for an antibiotic sensitivity testing applies both dilution of antibiotic and diffusion of antibiotic into the media. E-test strip has concentration gradient of antibiotic with lowest concentration at lower region and highest concentration at topmost region. Following incubation, elliptical or symmetrical inhibition zone is formed. The intersection of the inhibitory zone edge and calibrated strip indicates the MIC value. It is simple, reliable and accurate method to determine MIC for wide spectrum of infectious agents.


Determining MIC by E test

Monday, September 8, 2008

Procedures for seroty

Procedures for Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by co-agglutination assay (modified) - Dr Rewa Kanungo (05.11.04)

Reagents:
1. 7.2 Phostpahte buffered saline (PBS)- 1000 ml with 0.05% Na Azide (for washing)
2. 1.5% formaldehyde- 10 ml
3. water bath 800C
4. 10 ml pipettes
5. centrifuge tube- x20
6. smaller glass tubes- x20
7. biochemical tubes –x20
8. micropipette- x20 (100 μl)
9. PBS (Ph 7.2)- 200 ml with 0.1% Na Azide
10. PBS (Ph 7.2)- 100 ml without Na Azide


Preparation of Staphylococcus aureus
1. In the morning, inoculate freshly cultured Cowan type 1 strain of Staphylococcus aureus into MHBA (6 plates)
2. Incubate at 370C overnight in CO2 jar.
3. Next day, wash plates with PBS (Ph 7.2) with 0.05% Na Azide)
4. Scrape gently with sterile glass rod.
5. Collect into a centrifuge tube
6. Centrifuge at 3000 x g for 20 min then discard supernatant
7. Combine pellets from all 30 tubes in 1 or 2 tubes
8. Depending on the volume of the pellet, add 2 times the quality of PBS (Ph 7.2) with 0.05% Na Azide to tube containing pellet.
9. Mix thoroughly
10. Centrifuge at 3000 g for 15 min then discard the supernatant
11. Add 10 ml fresh PBS (Ph 7.2) with 0.05% Na Azide to the tube containing the pellet
12. Repeat steps 10 & 11 three times
13. Add 1.5% formaldehyde 10 times the volume of the pellet to stabilize staph (e.g. to 1 ml pellet add 10 ml 1.5% formaldehyde)
14. Mix thoroughly and stand at room temperature for 90 min
15. Centrifuge at 3000 g for 15 min then discard the supernatant
16. Wash 3 times as before then discard supernatant
17. Add 10 ml of PBS (Ph 7.2) (wash buffer)
18. Put tube in 800C water bath for 5 minutes (to kill staph)
19. Wash 2 times
20. Make 10% suspension of pellet (to 1 ml pellet add 10 ml PBS Ph7.2 with 0.1% Na Azide
21. Transfer 1 ml from pellet suspension to 2 tubes , keep 1 aside as control
22. 1st tube: Make 2.5% suspension as control (not sensitized) and keep aside
23. 2nd tube to be used for sensitization


Sensitization Steps:
1. Add 0.1 ml of antiserum to a fresh, dry, sterile tube
2. Add 1 ml of 10 % pellet suspension (2nd tube) to the antiserum (drop wise) while shaking the tube.
3. Stand at room temperature for 30 min with intermittent shaking
4. Centrifuge at 3000 g for 15 minutes then discard supernatant
5. Add 5 ml PBS (Ph7.2) with 0.1% Na Azide (this will make a 2% solution) and distribute in 1 ml
6. Label the coagglutination antisera solutions appropriately (A-F,H, and P-T)
7. Store at 2-80C (i.e. refrigerate)


Test Procedure
1. Carry out a clean glass slide
2. Make 25 μl of the culture suspension in PBS (Ph 7.2) ( without Na Azide)
3. Add each of the pool coagglutination antisera solutions (25 μl) as per the chart provided with the Pneumostat kit ( A-F, H, and P-T)
4. Rock the slide by hand for 2 minutes
5. Observe the results
6. Test is positive if cell clumping is observed along with clearing of suspension within 2 minutes and control slide shows no clumping

Serotyping: Webster's Facts and PhrasesMicrobiology Antigen/Antisera Shigella ()
ANTISERA, TOXOIDS, VACCINES AND TUBERCULINS IN PROPHYLAXIS AND TREATMENT.