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Telephone: +44 (0)151 298 1501 Fax: +44 (0)151 298 1758 

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About Us

Abtek Biologicals is a manufacturer of microbiological identification products, computerised sensitivity and identification systems, freeze dried antibiotics for the determination of antibiotic susceptibility in plates and freeze dried selective isolation supplements. These products are for use in microbiology laboratories in places ranging from hospitals and food manufacturers, to universities.

 

We were established in 1981 and have gone from the small beginnings of local manufacture here in Liverpool, to a worldwide network of distributors.

 

Latest Products: 

PYR Discs

For the in vitro detection of pyroglutamate aminopeptidase activity

PYR (L-pyroglutamic acid-ß-napthylamide) can be used to detect group A streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes) and group D enterococci.

The disc should be placed on a slide and wet with distilled water. You should then pick several suspect colonies to obtain a heavy inoculum and rub them onto the disc before letting it dry. Then, add a drop of the reagent. If the test is positive, you will observe a colour change to cherry red.

 
GMB10 and GMB100

For the sensitivity testing of yeast by NCCLS methods

Patients who are hospitalised for long periods of time, or who are immunocompromised, often suffer from yeast infections, particularly from the Candida spp. In order to prevent prolonged ineffective antifungal treatment with Fluconazole and Voriconazole, the NCCLS developed methods for the sensitivity testing of Candida spp.

Glucose Methylene Blue is a media supplement of 2% glucose to improve and accelerate the growth of the yeast, and 0.5µg of indicator to aid interpretation.

The supplement can be added during agar production, or the plate can be flooded before use. An Abtek Biologicals Fluconazole or Voriconazole susceptibility testing disc can then be placed onto the agar and the zone of inhibition measured.

 

References

A.Barry, J.Bille, S.Brown, D.Ellis, J.Meis, M.Pfaller, R.Rennie, M.Rinaldi, T.Rogers, and M.Traczewski. Quality Control Limits for Fluconazole Disk Susceptibility Tests on Mueller-Hinton Agar with Glucose and Methylene Blue. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2003 p. 3410-3412

M.A.Pfaller, A. Barry, J.Bille, S.Brown, D.Ellis, J.F.Meis, R.Rennie, M.Rinaldi, T.Rogers, and M.Traczewski. Quality Control Limits for Voriconazole Disk Susceptibility Tests on Mueller-Hinton Agar with Glucose and Methylene Blue. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Apr 2004, p.1716-1718

 
Catarrhalis Discs

For the in vitro differentiation of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis

Abtek Biologicals are proud to announce the launch of Catarrhalis Discs for the in vitro differentiation of Morexella (Branhamella) catarrhalis

Over the last 25 years perceptions of M. catarrhalis have changed from it being a harmless commensal of the upper respiratory tract, to an important cause of lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It can lead to a variety of infections from pneumonia to endocarditis, septicaemia and meningitis.

Researchers at Abtek have developed a simple disc test for identifying the presence of M. catarrhalis.

The filter paper discs contain an indicator that is highly sensitive to the Butylase esterase produced by M. catarrhalis. This indicator turns blue if the organism is present.

Simply place the disc on a slide; wet it with distilled water; rub a large colony of the suspect organism onto the discs and leave it for 5 minutes at room temperature. If the test is positive, it will turn blue.

The discs are supplied in vials of 25.

 

References

Cees M. Verduin, Cees Hol, Andre Fleer, Hans van Dijk, and Alex van Belkum. Moraxella catarrhalis: from Emerging to established Pathogen. Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jan 2002. p 125-144

 
Viabank

For the long-term storage of micro-organisms at low temperatures.

VIABANK vials containing a minimum of 25 glass beads covered in a cryopreservative solution. Each box contains 80 VIABANK vials with either 4 different coloured caps in each box or a choice of one colour from the four options. The boxes conveniently stack in freezer racks.

Directions

Storage of the organism

  • Label the white area on the vial with a suitable code for the organism using a permanent marker.
  • Heavily inoculate the organism from a fresh, pure culture.
  • Replace cap.
  • Gently distribute the inoculated broth throughout the beads.
  • With a sterile pipette, decant the surplus preservative fluid.
  • Replace cap.

Store the inoculated VIABANK tube in a suitable freezer.

Recovery of the organism

  • Remove a bead with sterile forceps.
  • Drop the bead into a suitable recovery broth or streak across the surface of an appropriate solid medium.
  • Disinfect the bead and dispose of in accordance with laboratory practice.
  • Replace the vial in the freezer as soon as possible.

Incubated in conditions appropriate for the organism. VIABANK tubes should be stored away from bright light.

Ordering

ORDER CODEDESCRIPTIONPRESENTATIONQUANTITY
VIMTubes of mixed coloursBox of tubes 1x 80 tubes
VIBAll Blue tubesBox of tubes 1x 80 tubes
VIGAll Green tubesBox of tubes 1x 80 tubes
VIRAll Red tubesBox of tubes 1x 80 tubes
VIYAll Yellow tubesBox of tubes 1x 80 tubes

 

References:

Feltham RKA, Power A K, Pell PA, Sneath PHA. A simple method for storage of bacteria at –70°C. J. appl. Bacterial. 1978, 44: 313-316

White DJ, Sands RL. Storage of bacteria at –70°C. Medical laboratory Sciences 1985, 42: 289-290

Nagel JG, Kunz LJ. Simplified Storage and Retrieval of Stock Cultures. Applied Microbiology Apr 1972. Vol 23 No4 p837-838