Pharmacopoeial media · Sterility test and enrichment
Tryptic Soy Broth – soya-bean casein digest medium
Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB), the soya-bean casein digest medium of the pharmacopoeias, is a rich broth for aerobic bacteria and fungi. It is one of the two media of the sterility test, the enrichment broth in tests for specified micro-organisms and the standard medium for media fills.
- Soya-bean casein digest medium
- Sterility test, enrichment and media fill
- Supports bacteria, yeasts and moulds
How Tryptic Soy Broth works
Casein and soya peptones, glucose and dipotassium phosphate support fast growth of a wide range of micro-organisms. In the sterility test the broth is incubated at 20–25 °C for 14 days and inspected for turbidity; in tests for specified micro-organisms it is the first, non-selective enrichment step.
Typical growth
| Organism | Growth |
| Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis | Turbid growth |
| Candida albicans | Growth within 5 days |
| Aspergillus brasiliensis | Growth within 5 days |
Technical data
| Preparation | 30 g/L; boil to dissolve, dispense, autoclave 121 °C 15 min |
| Final pH | 7.3 ± 0.2 |
| Incubation | Bacteria 30–35 °C, 18–24 h; fungi 20–25 °C, 2–5 days |
| Storage | Dry, dark place; keep the container tightly closed |
| Shelf life | 3 years unopened |
Applications and practical notes
The sterility test of the European Pharmacopoeia (chapter 2.6.1) and USP <71> uses two media: fluid thioglycollate medium for anaerobic and aerobic bacteria and soya-bean casein digest medium for aerobic bacteria and fungi, each incubated for 14 days. Typical applications include:
- Sterility testing of injectables and sterile products
- Media fill (aseptic process simulation)
- Sterility of medical devices and raw materials
- Growth promotion testing of each batch
Working with Tryptic Soy Broth: For the sterility test, incubate the broth at 20–25 °C and inspect it regularly for 14 days; if the product makes the broth turbid, subculture to fresh medium before reading.
Good practice with dehydrated media: keep the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry place, weigh the powder quickly to avoid moisture uptake, and use fresh distilled or deionised water. Check the pH of each new batch after preparation and before use, and label prepared media with the date. Performance of each lot can be verified with reference strains according to ISO 11133, the standard for the preparation, production, storage and performance testing of culture media.
About pharmacopoeial microbiological testing: the European Pharmacopoeia and the USP describe harmonised methods for non-sterile products – microbial enumeration (Ph. Eur. 2.6.12, USP <61>) and tests for specified micro-organisms (Ph. Eur. 2.6.13, USP <62>) – and the sterility test for sterile products (Ph. Eur. 2.6.1, USP <71>). The chapters define the media, incubation conditions and the growth promotion test that each batch of medium must pass with reference strains. COLO.Science offers the media, diluents, neutralisers and QC strains for these tests from one source.
Complete sets from one supplier: COLO.Science supplies culture media, supplements, rapid tests, identification kits and QC strains as complete sets for the method you follow. Send us your sample types and standards, and we will prepare an offer with the matching products and documentation.
Tryptic Soy Broth is supplied by COLO.Science in the pack sizes listed under Ordering information. For larger quantities, regular deliveries or method-specific sets that include Tryptic Soy Broth, please send us a request. With every delivery of Tryptic Soy Broth you receive the lot number and expiry date, and on request we send the available documentation for Tryptic Soy Broth.
Where Tryptic Soy Broth fits in pharmacopoeial testing
- Sample preparation – Buffered Sodium Chloride-Peptone Solution, Tryptic Soy Broth and neutralising diluents
- Microbial enumeration – Tryptic Soy Agar (TAMC) and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (TYMC)
- Specified micro-organisms – enrichment in Tryptic Soy Broth, then MacConkey, Mannitol Salt, Cetrimide, XLD, VRBG, RCM and Columbia media
- Sterility test – Fluid Thioglycollate Medium and Tryptic Soy Broth, 14 days
See all pharmacopoeial media in the Microbiology Catalogue →
Ordering information
| Product | COLO code | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) | PRO7466 | 500 g |
Product notice: preparation, storage conditions and shelf life are given on the label. Technical data on this page are for orientation; the label and the lot documentation apply. B2B prices are quoted net, excluding VAT.
Sales and technical support
COLO LabExperts
Polje ob Sotli 4, SI-3255, Slovenia
Quotations and technical support for culture media and microbiology products across our international sales territory. B2B prices are net, excluding VAT.
COLO.SCIENCE | MICROBIOLOGY SUPPORT
Need the complete set for your method?
Send the sample type, target organism and the standard you follow. COLO.Science will put together the media, supplements, QC strains and confirmation tests for the whole procedure.
