CFC AGAR

INTENDED USE
CFC AGAR
CFC Agar is a selective medium for the isolation and enumeration of pigmented and non-pigmented
Pseudomonas that contaminate meats and meat-based products during their cold storage.
HISTORY
The formula of the base medium is a modification of King A medium, in which magnesium chloride and
potassium sulfate favor pyocyanin production. CFC Supplement was developed by Mead and Adams in
1976 in order to enable the selective development of most psychrophilic Pseudomonas that
contaminate poultry products.
PRINCIPLES
- Pancreatic digest of gelatin and Tryptone are the nutrient substrates required for the rapid
multiplication of Pseudomonas.
- The production of pyocyanin (a blue, non-fluorescent pigment, soluble in water and in chloroform) is
stimulated by magnesium chloride and potassium sulfate.
- The cephalosporin concentration inhibits most contaminating bacteria, in particular enterobacteria,
staphylococci and streptococci.
- Fucidin inhibits the development of Acinetobacter / Moraxella without affecting the growth of
Pseudomonas.
- Contaminating yeasts are inhibited by cetrimide.
- The cephalosporin, fucidin and cetrimide are added just before use.
PREPARATION
- Suspend 49.4 g of dehydrated base medium (BK118) in 1 liter of distilled or deionized water.
- Slowly bring to boiling, stirring with constant agitation until complete dissolution.
- Dispense 100 mL in flasks.
- Sterilize in an autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes.
NOTE :
Incomplete agar melting during preparation will invariably lead to significant inconsistency in the gel
strength of the solidified agar, after sterilization and cooling.
1/4
Biokar Diagnostics – Rue des Quarante Mines – ZAC de Ther – Allonne – B.P. 10245 – F60002 Beauvais Cedex – France
Tél : + 33 (0)3 44 14 33 33 – Fax : + 33 (0)3 44 14 33 34 – www.biokar-diagnostics.com

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
- With the ready-to-melt base media BM096 (or if the media has been prepared in advance from the
dehydrated format), melt the agar for the minimum amount of time needed to achieve total
liquefaction.
- Cool and maintain at 44-47°C.
- Aseptically add 1 mL of reconstituted CFC Selective Supplement (BS022) to each 100 mL flask if
prepared from the dehydrated media, or 2 mL of reconstituted CFC Selective Supplement to each
200 mL vial of melted BM096.
- Homogenize thoroughly.
- Transfer 1 mL of the product to analyze and its serial tenfold dilutions to sterile Petri dishes.
- Pour 15 mL of complete medium.
- Mix well.
- Let solidify on a cold surface.
- Incubate at 22°C for 48 and 72 hours.
NOTE :
It is equally possible to inoculate on the surface of prepared plates (ISO 13720).
RESULTS
Only count plates containing no more than 300 colonies. Pigmented or fluorescent colonies can be
considered as presumptively belonging to Pseudomonas. The results must be confirmed by additional
appropriate tests such as: Gram-staining, mobility, pigment production, oxidase reaction or sugar
fermentation using Kligler agar (BK034).
TYPICAL COMPOSITION
(can be adjusted to obtain optimal performance)
For 1 liter of medium :
- Pancreatic digest of gelatin .......................................................... 16.0 g
- Tryptone ........................................................................................ 10.0 g
- Potassium sulfate .......................................................................... 10.0 g
- Magnesium chloride ........................................................................ 1.4 g
- Bacteriological agar....................................................................... 12.0 g
- Cetrimide .................................................................................... 10.0 mg
- Fucidin........................................................................................ 10.0 mg
- Cephalosporin ............................................................................ 50.0 mg
pH of the ready to use medium at 25°C : 7.2 ± 0.2.
2/4
Biokar Diagnostics – Rue des Quarante Mines – ZAC de Ther – Allonne – B.P. 10245 – F60002 Beauvais Cedex – France
Tél : + 33 (0)3 44 14 33 33 – Fax : + 33 (0)3 44 14 33 34 – www.biokar-diagnostics.com

QUALITY CONTROL
- Dehydrated base medium : cream-white powder, free-flowing and homogeneous.
- Prepared medium (complete) : whitish, agar.
- Typical culture response on complete medium after 72 hours of incubation at 25°C :
Microorganisms
Pseudomonas aeruginosa CIP 82.118
Pseudomonas putida ATCC ® 12633
Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13525
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923
STORAGE / SHELF LIFE
Dehydrated base medium : 2-30°C.
- The expiration date is indicated on the label.
Prepared medium (benchmark value*) :
- Base media in flasks : 6 months at 2-8°C.
- Complete media in plates : 8 days at 2-8°C, shielded from light.
Ready-to-melt base media in vials,
CFC Selective Supplement :
- Store between 2-8°C, shielded from light.
- The expiration date is indicated on the label.
3/4
Growth
(Productivity ratio : PR)
PR ≥ 50%
PR ≥ 50%
PR ≥ 50%
inhibited, score 0
PACKAGING Code
Ready-to-melt base medium in vials
(without cetrimide, fucidin and cephalosporin) :
- 10 x 200 mL BM09608
Dehydrated base medium
(without cetrimide, fucidin and cephalosporin) :
- 500 g bottle BK118HA
CFC Selective Supplement :
- 10 vial pack BS02208
Biokar Diagnostics – Rue des Quarante Mines – ZAC de Ther – Allonne – B.P. 10245 – F60002 Beauvais Cedex – France
Tél : + 33 (0)3 44 14 33 33 – Fax : + 33 (0)3 44 14 33 34 – www.biokar-diagnostics.com

PHOTO SUPPORT
Product Reference : [BK118HA + BS02208] or [BM09608 + BS02208]
Media used for : Selective isolation and enumeration of Pseudomonas.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
CFC agar
Ref : BM09608 + BS02208
Incubation : 48 hours / 22°C
Characteristics : Yellow to greenish pigmented colonies, sometimes fluorescent, often
with a diffusible pigmentation in the agar.
BARNES, E.M. and THORNLEY, M.I.. 1966. The spoilage flora of eviscerated chickens stored at different temperatures.
Journal of Food Technology, 1:113-119.
MEAD, G.C. and ADAMS, B.W.. 1977. A selective medium for the rapid isolation of pseudomonads associated with poultry
meat spoilage. British Poultry Science, 18:661-670.
XP CEN ISO/TS 11133-2 (V 08-104-2). Janvier 2004. Microbiologie des aliments. Guide pour la préparation et la production
des milieux de culture. Partie 2 : Guide général pour les essais de performance des milieux de culture.
NF V 04-504. Mars 2006. Microbiologie des aliments. Dénombrement des Pseudomonas spp. dans les viandes et produits à
base de viande et les volailles. Méthode de routine.
ISO 13720. Octobre 2010. Viandes et produits à base de viande. Dénombrement des Pseudomonas spp. présomptifs.
*Benchmark value refers to the expected shelf life when prepared under standard laboratory conditions following manufacturer’s instructions. It is provided as a
guide only and no warranty, implied or otherwise is associated with this information.
The information provided on the package take precedence over the formulations or instructions described in this document.
The information and specifications contained in this technical data sheet date from 2010-10-13.
They are susceptible to modification at any time, without warning.
Code document : BK118/A/2001-04 : 7.
4/4
Biokar Diagnostics – Rue des Quarante Mines – ZAC de Ther – Allonne – B.P. 10245 – F60002 Beauvais Cedex – France
Tél : + 33 (0)3 44 14 33 33 – Fax : + 33 (0)3 44 14 33 34 – www.biokar-diagnostics.com