BacT/ALERT® Culture Media

Provides an optimal environment for the recovery of a wide range of organisms, including bacteria, fungi and mycobacteria

• Flexible media recovers organisms from many sample types from blood to sterile body fluids

• Colorimetric technology and sophisticated algorithms minimize false negatives

• Standard and specialized Fastidious Antimicrobial Neutralization media available

• Shatter-proof plastic bottles maximize safety without compromising performance

OVERVIEW

Colorimetric detection outshines other technology

With colorimetric detection, BacT/ALERT® culture media offers you sophisticated technology that outshines the rest. Specialized Liquid Emulsion Sensors (LES) at the bottom of each culture bottle visibly change color when the pH changes due to the rise in CO2 as it is produced by microorganisms. BacT/ALERT® 3D instruments measure the color changes every ten minutes and analyze the changes. Sophisticated algorithms, including a unique “threshold” algorithm, ensure early detection of micro-organisms. Even when bottles are delayed in transit, the visual color change helps you potentially identify positive bottles prior to entry into the system. That’s how you can be assured of accurate detection and rapid recovery of microorganisms from various sample types.

• Technology and sophisticated algorithms help minimize false negatives due to delayed entry

• Low false-positive rates

• Visual, irreversible color change

• Flexible media delivers reliable recovery

BacT/ALERT® culture media offers a comprehensive range of media bottles to ensure the rapid recovery of a wide variety of microorganisms including bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and yeasts. From various sample types including blood, sterile body fluids and sputum, BacT/ALERT® culture media can detect 98% of isolates within 72 hours*.

• FDA-cleared for blood, sterile body fluids and platelets

• Recovers a wide range of microorganisms

• Specialized bottles for mycobacterium recovery

• Fastidious Antimicrobial Neutralization media optimizes recovery for patients on antimicrobial therapy

*Bourbeau PP and Pohlan JK. Three days of incubation may be sufficient for routine blood cultures with BacT/ALERT® FAN® blood culture bottles. J Clin Microbiol. 2001; 39(6): 2079-82

New FAN® Plus media: optimized time to detection and recovery

Our next generation Fastidious Antimicrobial Neutralization Plus media (FAN® Plus) offers optimized time to detection and recovery. FAN® Plus bottles provide even clearer Gram stains and new Adsorbent Polymeric Beads offer antimicrobial neutralization.

Optimized Microorganism Recovery

Reformulated media provide a robust environment that encourages microbial growth for bacteria and yeasts
Effective organism growth in blood and sterile body fluids
Growth performance guidelines under delayed entry conditions

Optimized Time To Detection

Effective antimicrobial neutralization provides better environment for organism growth and detection

Safety & efficiency: trust the pioneer in plastic collection bottles

bioMérieux was the first to introduce revolutionary multilayer plastic bottles. Made of unique polycarbonate material, their triple-layer design ensures appropriate environment for recovery of microorganisms. These shatter-resistant bottles significantly improve safety in the laboratory by eliminating accidental spills, potential biohazard exposure and glass cuts. Because they weigh less, these bottles have the added benefit of reducing shipping and disposal costs. And – as numerous studies have shown – the bottom line is that you get all these clear advantages while still ensuring optimal performance in recovery and time to detection.

• Shatter-resistant bottles reduce potential for biohazard exposure

• Up to 2/3 lighter than glass

• Cost-effective storage, shipping and disposal

• Multi-layer, gas-impermeable design maintains aerobic or anaerobic environments

• Adapt to a variety of protocols and enable pneumatic transport without a special container

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Fastidious Antimicrobial Neutralization Media

FAN® media with activated charcoal to neutralize antimicrobial

BACT/ALERT® 3D: HEALTHCARE PUBLICATIONS

Standard Media Recovery:

Mirret S, Reller LB, Petti CA, Woods CW, Vazirani B, Sivadas R, and Weinstein MP. Controlled Clinical Comparison of BacT/ALERT® Standard Aerobic Medium with BACTEC Standard Aerobic Medium for Culturing Blood. J. Clin Microbiol. 2003; 41(6):2391-2394.

Bernard D, Verschraegen G, Claeys G, Lauwers S, Rosseel P. Bilophila wadsworthia bacteremia in a patient with gangrenous appendicitis. Clin Infect Dis. June 1994;18:1023-1024.

Standard vs. FAN® Media:

Weinstein MP, Mirrett S, Reimer LG, Wilson ML, Smith-Elekes S, Chuard CR, Joho KL, Reller LB. Controlled evaluation of BacT/ALERT standard aerobic and FAN® aerobic blood culture bottles for detection of bacteremia and fungemia. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33(4):978-981.

Wilson ML, Weinstein MP, Mirrett S, Reimer LG, Feldman RJ, Chuard CR, Reller LB. Controlled evaluation of BacT/ALERT® standard anaerobic and FAN® anaerobic blood culture bottles for the detection of bacteremia and fungemia. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33(9):2265-2270.

McDonald LC, Fune J, Gaido LB, Weinstein MP, Reimer LG, Flynn TM, Wilson ML, Mirrett S, Reller LB. Clinical importance of increased sensitivity of BacT/ALERT® FAN® aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles. J Clin Microbiol. 1996;34(9):2180-2184.

Mirrett S, Everts RJ, Reller LB. Controlled Comparison of Original Vented Aerobic FAN® Medium with New Nonvented BacT/ALERT® FA Medium for Culturing Blood. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39(6):2098-2101.

Mirrett S, Petti CA, Woods CW, Magadia R, Weinstein MP, Reller LB. Controlled Clinical Comparison of the BacT/ALERT® FN and the Standard Anaerobic SN Blood Culture Medium. J Clin Microbiol. 2004;42(10):4581-4585.

FAN® vs. BACTEC Plus:

Ziegler R, Johnscher I, Martus P, Lenhardt D, Just HM. Controlled clinical laboratory comparison of two supplemented aerobic and anaerobic media in automated blood culture systems to detect bloodstream infections. J Clin Microbiol. 1998; 36(3):657-661.

Pohlman JK, Kirkley BA, Easley KA, Basille BA, Washington JA. Controlled clinical evaluation of BACTEC Plus Aerobic/F and BacT/ALERT® aerobic FAN® bottles for detection of bloodstream infections. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33(11):2856-2858.

Jorgensen JH, Mirrett S, McDonald LC, Murray PR, Weinstein MP, Fune J, Trippy CW, Masterson M, Reller LB. Controlled clinical laboratory comparison of BACTEC Plus Aerobic/F Resin medium with BacT/ALERT® Aerobic FAN® medium for detection of bacteremia and fungemia. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35(1):53-58.

FAN Plus Media:

Altun O, Almuhayawi M, Ullberg M and Ozenci V, Clinical Evaluation of the FilmArray Blood Culture Identification Panel in Identification of Bacteria and Yeasts from Positive Blood Culture Bottles, J. Clin. Microbiol. 2013, 51(12):4130.

Kirn TJ, Mirrett S, Reller LB, Weinstein MP, Controlled Clinical Comparison of BacT/ALERT FA Plus and FN Plus Blood Culture Media with BacT/ALERT FA and FN Blood Culture Media, J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.03063-13.

Lee DH, Kim SC, Bae IG, Kim S,  Clinical Evaluation of BacT/Alert FA Plus and FN Plus Bottles Compared with Standard Bottles, J. Clin. Microbiol. 2013, 51(12):4150.

Mitteregger D, Barousch W, Nehr M,  Kundi M,  Zeitlinger M , Makristathis A and Hirschl AM, Neutralization of Antimicrobial Substances in New BacT/Alert FA and FN Plus Blood Culture Bottles, J. Clin. Microbiol. 2013, 51(5):1534.

Other:

Paul P. Bourbeau and Janice K. Pohlman, Three Days of Incubation May Be Sufficient for Routine Blood Cultures with BacT/ALERT® FAN® Blood Culture Bottles. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39(6):2079-2082.

Seegmuller I, Eschenbach U, Kamereck K. Sensitivity of the BacT/ALERT® FA medium for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in pre-incubated blood cultures and its temperature dependence. J Med Microbiol, (2004); 53. 869-874.