QUAD PLATE RESULTS

URINE QUAD PLATES

Lide Labs' Urine Quad Plate is designed for the growth, quantification and identification of urinary tract infections. The plate contains four medias including: CLED Agar (a media designed for the growth and enumeration of organisms in urine), Heart Infusion Blood Agar (for growth of all organisms and determining hemolysis), CNA Agar (for the promotion of gram-positives at the expense of gram-negatives) and MacConkey Agar (for the growth of gram-negatives with identification).

The photo shown here is an actual plate used in the determination of a clinical diagnosis. An 8 year old cat was brought to Richland Vet Services with symptoms including blood in the urine and inappropriate urination. As part of the examination, urine was collected and applied to our Urine Quad Plate. The plate was incubated and the following observations were made. The chamber containing Blood Agar showed growth expressed as gray colonies that were hemolytic. CLED Agar showed yellow colonies. MacConkey Agar grew red colonies. And, the CNA Agar should no growth. Information obtained from the plate was compared against data provided in our Lab ID Chart which contains deferential growth characteristics and morphology of common bacteria on each Urine Quad media. Based on this, the veterinarian was able to determine that this cat had a urine infection due to E.coli bacteria.

Special thanks to all at Richland Vet Services (Richland Center, WI) for providing the results and photo to us.

MASTITIS QUAD PLATES

We manufacture two types of Mastitis Quad Plates. Both types have our Heart Infusion Blood Agar (BAP) in plate chamber 1, TKT/FC Agar in plate chamber 2, and MacConkey Agar in plate chamber 3. The Baird-Parker Agar or our own KLMB Agar is added in the fourth plate position.

BAP is a general, nonselective agar, allowing growth for most organisms. Differentiation is possible through recognition of bacterial growth characteristics. We use Heart Infusion Agar in our BAP along with 5% sheep blood as we have found it provides the best, most consistent results for common animal pathogens.

Our TKT/FC Agar is for growth, separation and identification of streptococci organisms while inhibiting growth of other organisms. With the addition of our own Agar formulation and in-lab hemolysin, along with 5% sheep blood, further separation of specific strep bacteria is possible with the recognition of hemolysis on the Agar.

MacConkey Agar is added for growth, separation and identification of gram negative bacteria (primarily coliforms).

Baird-Parker Agar and KLMB Agar both promote growth and separation of staphylococci while inhibiting growth of other organisms. With the addition of our own KLMB hemolysin and 5% sheep blood, our KLMB Agar is also selective for staph types with hemolysis recognition. The photos below show actual results of our plates inoculated with Staph aureus samples after 24 hours of incubation.

Additional Quad Plates

We also manufacture additional Quad Plates. Our Standard Quad Plate is a general purpose plate used for initial culturing and identification of gram-positive and gram negative organisms. It is used by many equine practitioners and small animal practices.

Our Staph Quad Plate (shown below) is designed to further separate and identify staphylococci and is used in a number of settings.

Aseptic techniques are required for all sample collections. We produce tubes with Distribution Fluid, Transport Media and Enrichment Broth which can be used to collect, transport and enhance initial growth of samples. We also sell sterile swabs for sample extraction and inoculating loops for streaking samples on plates.

Milk samples for mastitis testing can be collected into empty sterile tubes directly from a teat. Wash each teat and clean end with antiseptic wipe. Quarter or combined samples may be taken. Strip out five or more squirts of milk to flush canal. Open sample tube and hold at a 45-degree angle while adding sample. Recap sample container and mark with proper identification. Store samples at 4 degrees C. Test within 72 hours. Freezing samples for longer storage is acceptable for most bacteria, however viability of some organisms (ie. coliforms) may be reduced when frozen.

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