Evaluation of Thiosulfate-Citrate-Bile Salts-Sucrose Agar, a Selective Medium for the Isolation of Vibrio cholerae and Other Pathogenic Vibrios

Three brands of thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) agar, a selective medium for the isolation of Vibrio cholerae and other pathogenic vibrios, were compared. Although the three products supported the growth of V. cholerae and Vibrio parahemolyticus equally well, there were lot-to-lot and brand-to-brand variations in the ability of these media to inhibit organisms present in the bowel flora. In general, TCBS agar produced by Eiken Chemical Company was more effective in this regard than TCBS agar produced by Baltimore Biological Laboratories or Difco Laboratories.