KIRCHNER MEDIUM BASE, MODIFIED

Description

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an acid-fast gram-positive aerobic bacteria involved in most cases of tuberculosis. Humans are the only reservoir for the bacterium. Many non-pathogenic Mycobacteria are components of the normal flora of humans, found most often in dry and oily locales. Kirchner Medium was first developed by Kirchner based on the formulation of Longs Medium and further modified with addition of glycerol and enrichments for the cultivation of M. tuberculosis. It is widely used for antibacterial test, for antituberculosis agents and sometimes in differential culture of M. tuberculosis from unhealthy materials. Kirschner Agar Medium is made by addition of agar (2%) to this medium. Kirchner Semisolid Agar Medium is obtainable by addition of agar upto 0.1%. In case of screening test for antituberculosis agents on solid media, it takes at least 3-4 weeks to achieve culture of tubercle bacilli. Broth medium can give results in a week or two; hence broth medium is widely used in cases where rapid results are needed.