Novobiocin NOV 5 µg (1x 50 discs, Mast)

Background:
Antibiotic test discs are used for semi-quantitative susceptibility testing of common, fast-growing, and certain demanding bacteria against antibiotics using the agar diffusion method.

Test Principle:
The filter paper discs, impregnated with defined quantities of antibiotics, are applied to the surface of a suitable medium (e.g., Mueller-Hinton agar). The culture medium must first be inoculated with a standardized inoculum (EUCAST recommendation: McFarland 0.5) of a fresh pure culture of the bacterial strain to be tested. After a 24-hour incubation, growth is checked, the zones of inhibition around the test discs are measured, and compared with clinical breakpoints for the various antibiotics tested to determine susceptibility (S - Susceptible at standard exposure, I - susceptible at increased exposure, R - Resistant). The diameter of the zones of inhibition corresponds to the susceptibility of the tested bacterial strain to the antibiotic concentration at the edge of the inhibition zone. 

You can find various service documents, such as templates with inhibition zone boundaries for easy evaluation of the agar diffusion test, a collection of guidelines, and application videos in our media library. 

Content and Storage:

• Cartridges containing 50 test discs each.
• Store at 2-8° C.

Note: MAST system cartridges are only compatible with MAST dispensers.

As an alternative to agar diffusion, we recommend agar dilution, which can be partially automated, for example, with the MICRONAUT system, and for which there are increasingly more precise clinical breakpoints. That is, since EUCAST 10.0 (2020) at the latest, certain antibiotics can only be tested by agar dilution, and no longer by agar diffusion (!). We would be happy to advise you on this and help you find the best solution for you.