Remel™ Cetrimide Selective Agar (Dehydrated)

Selectively isolate and presumptively identify Psuedomonas aeruginosa and other non-fermentative, gram-negative bacilli using Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ Cetrimide Selective Agar (Dehydrated). King et al. developed a medium called Tech Agar which was used to enhance pyocyanin production by Psuedomonas¹. In 1955, Lowbury described the use of cetrimide in a selective medium for P. aeruginosa². This formulation is recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the AOAC International (AOAC)^3,4. Centrimide Agar has the formula of Tech Agar but is modified by the addition of centrimide.

Selectively isolate and presumptively identify Psuedomonas aeruginosa and other non-fermentative, gram-negative bacilli using Cetrimide Selective Agar (Dehydrated).

• Selective: Centrimide in the medium inhibits bacteria other than P. aeruginosa by causing nitrogen and to be released from bacterial cells, making the medium selective for P. aeruginosa.
• Easy-to-read: P. aeruginosa forms fluorescent green colonies which can be easily differentiated from the other non-fluoroscent colonies.
• This formulation is recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the AOAC International (AOAC)^3,4. Centrimide Agar has the formula of Tech Agar but is modified by the addition of centrimide.

This medium contains potassium sulfate and magnesium chloride which stimulate the production of pyocyanin and fluorescein. Fluorescein production is visualized using an ultraviolet light. P. aeruginosa is characterized by production of pyocyanin, a blue-green, water-soluble, non-fluorescent phenazine pigment. Centrimide (N-acetyl-NNN-trimethyl-ammonium bromide, cetavlon) causes nitrogen and phosphorus to be released from bacterial cells and inhibits bacteria other than P. aeruginosa.