TRANSPORT MEDIUM, AMIES W/O CHARCOAL is used for transportation and preservation of clinical samples. For more details visit:- http://www.titanmedia.in/images/upload/td/TM%20456_TRANSPORT%20MEDIUM%20AMIES%20WITHOUT%20CHARCOAL%20TM%20456.pdf or http://www.titanmedia.in

1. TITAN MEDIA
TRANSPORT MEDIUM, AMIES W/O CHARCOAL TM 456
For transportation and preservation of clinical samples
Composition
Ingredients Gms/Ltr.
Agar 4.00
Sodium chloride 3.00
Na2HPO4 1.15
Sodium thioglycollate 1.00
Potassium chloride 0.20
Calcium chloride 0.10
Magnesium chloride 0.10
* Dehydrated powder, hygroscopic in nature, store in a dry place, in tightly-sealed containers below 25 ｰ C
and protect from direct Sunlight.
Instructions for Use
Dissolve 10gms in 1000ml of distilled water. Gently heat to boiling for 1 minute with gentle swirling and
dissolve the medium completely. Dispense the media in tubes. Sterilize by autoclaving at 15 psi (121ｰC)
for 15 minutes. Place the tubes to cool in upright position.
Appearance: Cream colour, opalescent gel
pH (at 25°C): 7.3 ｱ 0.2
Principle
TRANSPORT MEDIUM, AMIES W/O CHARCOAL is used for transportation and preservation of
clinical samples. Amies introduced his modification of Stuart’s Transport Medium to overcome a number
of problems. In Stuart’s Transport Medium suffered from overgrowth by coliforms that were capable of
utilizing sodium glycerophosphate. Scientist “Amies” has replaced this problem of component with an
inorganic phosphate buffer system. In the formulation of Amies Transport medium without Charcoal, to
maintain the viability of microorganisms without significant increase in growth, being nonnutritive,
phosphate buffered and semi-solid. Potassium chloride Magnesium chloride and Calcium chloride salts
are added to control the permeability of the bacterial cell wall and thus prolong their survival. Disodium
phosphates act as a buffer system. Less amount of Agar is added to make medium semi solid. Sodium
thioglycollate suppresses oxidative changes and provides a reduced environment. The survival of
bacteria in a transport medium depends on various factors such as bacteria type and concentration in the
specimen, transport medium formulation, the temperature and duration of transport, and inoculation to
appropriate culture media within 24 hours. Culture will continue to be important as it allows antibiotic
susceptibility to be performed. While inoculation of microorganisms by sterile swabs into the upper third
of the transport medium, break-off the protruding portion of swab stick and tightly screw cap the tube.
Historically, because N. gonorrhoeae is temperature sensitive, it has been recommended that genital
specimens be stored at room temperature prior to processing. Specimens which have been plated and
then transported have better recovery of N. gonorrhoeae at 37ｰC than at room temperature or at 400C.
However, it is becoming clear that N. gonorrhoeae on transport swabs survives better at 4ｰC than at room
temperature. The improved survival at 4ｰC varies somewhat with different swab systems. In almost all
these studies, swabs have been inoculated with pure cultures of N. gonorrhoeae.
Interpretation
Following results obtained from different type of cultures kept under different temperatures (4 ｰ C and
room temperature) for up to 72 hours.
Cultural characteristics observed after inoculating (102 - 103CFU/ml), when on subcultured on Soya

2. Casein Digest Agar (TM 345), for a period of 18 - 24 hours at 35 ｱ 2ｰC.
Microorganisms ATCC Recovery at 40C Recovery at 250C
Neisseria gonorrhoeae 19424 ≥ 50% ≥ 50%
Brucella abortus 4315 ≥ 50% ≥ 50%
Salmonella typhi 6539 ≥ 50% ≥ 50%
References
1. Amies C.R. "A Modified Formula for the Preparation of Stuart’s Transport Medium". Can. J. Public
Health 58: 296-300. (1967).
2. Stuart R.D., Toshach S.R. and Patsula T.M. Can. J. Pub. Hlth., 45:75. (1954).
3. Chapel T., Jeffries C, Gatewood B., Schileru R. American Journal of Clinical Pathology; vol 72(1), July
1979, p 84-87. (1979).
4. Sng E., Rajan V., Yeo K., Goh A. The Recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Clinical Specimens:
Effects of Different Temperatures, Transport Times, and Media. Sexually Transmitted Diseases: vol
9(2), April-June, 74 -78. (1982.).
For more details visit:- http://www.titanmedia.in/images/upload/td/TM%20456_TRANSPORT%20MEDIUM%20AMIES
%20WITHOUT%20CHARCOAL%20TM%20456.pdf or http://www.titanmedia.in