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Selenite broth
Introduction
Selenite broth is used as an enrichment medium for the isolation of Salmonella and Shigella species. This medium must not be autoclaved. Once prepared it is steamed at 100C for 30 minutes. There should be a very slight red precipitate. To minimise the risk of teratogenicity to workers, sodium selenite must be added separately to the medium. It has a pH of approximately 7.1.
Selenite broth contains:
| Peptone | 5g/l |
| Lactose | 4g/l |
| Di-sodium hydrogen phosphate | 9.5g/l |
| Sodium di-hydrogen phosphate | 10g/l |
| Sodium selenite (NaHSeO3) | 4mg/l |