Vogel-Johnson Agar 1079 Condalab

Vogel-Johnson Agar is a selective and differential medium used for the early detection of Staphylococcus aureus by identifying the coagulase-positive and mannitol-fermenting strains. The medium is well suited for the detection of staphylococci carriers as well as studies of sanitary concern. S. aureus reduce the potassium tellurite to the metal tellurium and result in the growth of black colonies. The fermentation of mannitol is indicated by the yellow zones around the black colonies and changes the red colour of the medium to yellow.

Tryptone provides nitrogen, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids essential for growth. Yeast extract is a source of vitamins, particularly of the B-group. Mannitol is the fermentable carbohydrate providing carbon and energy potassium tellurite, lithium chloride and the high glycine concentration inhibit most microorganisms other than staphylococci. Phenol red is the pH indicator. Dipotassium phosphate is a buffer and bacteriological agar is the solidifying agent.

Vogel-Johnson Agar plates can be streaked heavily with a swab and incubated at 35±2 °C for 24-48 hours. It is important to look for the black colonies that are surrounded by a yellow zone. In the first 24 hours, most microorganisms except for coagulase-positive staphylococci are totally or markedly inhibited. In the 48-hour period, many coagulase-negative staphylococci, mannitol-positive and mannitol-negative begin to appear. Staphylococcus epidermidis, almost always inhibited early, forms small greyish-black colonies without yellow zones. Coagulase-positive staphylococci form black colonies on the red medium. If they ferment mannitol, the colonies are surrounded by a yellow zone. Mannitol-negative organisms do not change the red colour of the medium.