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Technical Data
Vogel- Johnson Agar Base w/o Tellurite (V.J. Agar) M023
Intended Use:
Recommended for selective isolation of coagulase positive, mannitol fermenting Staphylococcus aureus from heavily
contaminated food and clinical specimens.
Composition**
Ingredients g/L
Tryptone 10.000
Yeast extract 5.000
Mannitol 10.000
Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate 5.000
Lithium chloride 5.000
Glycine 10.000
Phenol red 0.025
Agar 16.000
Final pH ( at 25°C) 7.2±0.2

**Formula adjusted, standardized to suit performance parameters

Directions
Suspend 61.02 grams in 1000 ml purified / distilled water. Heat to boiling to dissolve the medium completely. Sterilize by
autoclaving at 15 lbs pressure (121°C) for 15 minutes. Cool to 45-50°C and add 20 ml of sterile 1% Potassium Tellurite
solution (FD052). Mix gently and pour into sterile Petri plates.
Principle And Interpretation
Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive, spherical bacterium, is a common colonizer of the human skin and mucosa. It
causes skin and wound infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and bacteremia. It is also commonly implicated in food
poisoning. It is also found as a common contaminant in pharmaceutical and cosmetics products (1). Vogel-Johnson Agar is
prepared according to the formula devised by Vogel and Johnson (2) and is recommended for the microbial limit test in
USP (3). Originally it was developed by Zebovitz (4), as a Tellurite Glycine Agar, a selective medium for the detection of
coagulase-positive staphylococci. Vogel-Johnson modified the medium in 1960 by the addition of phenol red as a pH
indicator and by increasing the quantity of mannitol (2). Selection and differentiation of coagulase-positive
staphylococci on V.J. Agar is based on mannitol fermentation and tellurite reduction (5). V.J. Agar is specified in the
standard methods for examination of cosmetics (1,6), pharmaceutical articles and nutritional supplements (3). In addition, the
formulation complies with recommendations by the USP for microbial limit testing (3).
Tryptone and yeast extract provide nitrogenous and carbonaceous compounds, vitamin B complex and other growth
nutrients. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate provides buffering to the medium. During the first 24 hours, contaminating
organisms are almost inhibited by tellurite, lithium chloride and high glycine content. The effect of inhibitors on
S.aureus is reduced because of the presence of mannitol and glycine. Coagulase-positive staphylococci reduce potassium
tellurite to metallic free tellurium and thus produce black colonies surrounded by yellow zones. This yellow colour is due to
phenol red indicator that turns yellow in acidic condition due mannitol fermentation. If mannitol is not fermented, yellow
zones are not formed. Also the colour of the medium around the colonies may even be a deeper red than normal due to
utilization of the peptones in the medium. Prolonged incubation may result in growth of black coagulase-negative colonies.
Type of specimen
Clinical samples - pus samples, urine, wound samples; Food and dairy samples.
Specimen Collection and Handling:
For clinical samples follow appropriate techniques for handling specimens as per established guidelines (7,8).
For food and dairy samples, follow appropriate techniques for sample collection and processing as per guidelines (9).
After use, contaminated materials must be sterilized by autoclaving before discarding.

Please refer disclaimer Overleaf.

HiMedia Laboratories Technical Data

Warning and Precautions :

In Vitro diagnostic Use. For professional use only. Read the label before opening the container. Wear protective gloves/
protective clothing/eye protection/ face protection. Follow good microbiological lab practices while handling specimens
and culture. Standard precautions as per established guidelines should be followed while handling clinical specimens.
Safety guidelines may be referred in individual safety data sheets.
Limitations :
1.Individual organisms differ in their growth requirement and may show variable growth patterns on the medium.
2.Each lot of the medium has been tested for the organisms specified on the COA. It is recommended to users to validate the
medium for any specific microorganism other than mentioned in the COA based on the user’s unique requirement.
3.Further biochemical testing is required on colonies of pure culture for complete identification.
Performance and Evaluation
Performance of the medium is expected when used as per the direction on the label within the expiry period when stored at
recommended temperature.
Quality Control
Appearance
Light yellow to pink homogeneous free flowing powder
Gelling
Firm, comparable with 1.6% Agar gel.
Colour and Clarity of prepared medium
Red coloured clear to slightly opalescent gel forms in Petri plates.
Reaction
Reaction of 6.1% w/v aqueous solution at 25°C. pH : 7.2±0.2
pH
7.00-7.40
Cultural Response
Cultural characteristics observed with added 1% Potassium Tellurite solution (FD052), after an incubation at 35-37°C for
24-48 hours.
Organism Inoculum Growth Recovery Colour of Mannitol
(CFU) colony fermentation

Escherichia coli ATCC >=104 inhibited 0% - -

25922 (00013*)
Proteus mirabilis ATCC 50-100 poor 10-20% black negative
25933
Staphylococcus aureus 50-100 luxuriant >=50% black with positive
subsp.aureus ATCC 25923 yellow halo
(00034*)
Staphylococcus epidermidis
50-100 Fair-good 30-40% translucent to negative
ATCC 12228 (00036*)
blackish
Escherichia coli ATCC >=104 inhibited 0% - -
8739 (00012*)
Staphylococcus aureus 50-100 luxuriant >=50% black with positive
subsp. aureus ATCC yellow halo
6538 (00032*) black with positive

yellow halo

Key : (*) Corresponding WDCM numbers.

Storage and Shelf Life
Store between 10-30°C in a tightly closed container and the prepared medium at 20-30°C. Use before expiry date
on the label. On opening, product should be properly stored dry, after tightly capping the bottle in order to prevent
lump formation due to the hygroscopic nature of the product. Improper storage of the product may lead to
lump formation. Store in dry ventilated area protected from extremes of temperature and sources of ignition
Seal the container tightly after use. Product performance is best if used within stated expiry period.
Please refer disclaimer Overleaf.
HiMedia Laboratories Technical Data

Disposal
User must ensure safe disposal by autoclaving and/or incineration of used or unusable preparations of this product. Follow
established laboratory procedures in disposing of infectious materials and material that comes into contact with clinical
sample must be decontaminated and disposed of in accordance with current laboratory techniques (7,8).

Reference
1. FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual, 2016, AOAC, Washington, D.C.
2. Vogel R. A. and Johnson M. J., 1960, Public Health Lab. 18:131.
3. United States Pharmacopeia, 2019. United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc., Rockville, Md.
4. Zebovitz E., Evans J. B. and Niven C. F., 1955, J. Bacteriol., 70:686.
5. MacFaddin J. F., 1985, Media for Isolation-Cultivation-Identification-Maintenance of Medical Bacteria, Vol. 1, Williams
& Wilkins, Baltimore, Md.
6. Curry A. S., Graf J. G. and McEwen G. M., (Eds.), 1993, CTFA Microbiology Guidelines, The Cosmetic, Toiletry
and Fragrance Association, Washington, D.C.
7. Isenberg, H.D. Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook. 2nd Edition.
8. Jorgensen, J.H., Pfaller, M.A., Carroll, K.C., Funke, G., Landry, M.L., Richter, S.S and Warnock., D.W. (2015)Manual
of Clinical Microbiology, 11th Edition. Vol. 1.
9. Salfinger Y., and Tortorello M.L., 2015, Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods, 5th
Ed., American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C.

Revision : 04/2024

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Disclaimer :
User must ensure suitability of the product(s) in their application prior to use. Products conform solely to the information contained in this and
other related HiMedia™ publications. The information contained in this publication is based on our research and development work and is to the best
of our knowledge true and accurate. HiMedia™ Laboratories Pvt Ltd reserves the right to make changes to specifications and information related
to the products at any time. Products are not intended for human or animal or therapeutic use but for laboratory,diagnostic, research or further
manufacturing use only, unless otherwise specified. Statements contained herein should not be considered as a warranty of any kind, expressed or
implied, and no liability is accepted for infringement of any patents.

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