Legionella · Growth supplement
BCYE Growth Supplement – L-cysteine for BCYE agar
The BCYE Growth Supplement contains L-cysteine hydrochloride. One vial added to 100 mL of BCYE Agar Base gives BCYE agar for the cultivation and confirmation of Legionella according to ISO 11731.
- L-cysteine HCl 40 mg per vial
- 1 vial per 100 mL of base
- 10 vials
How BCYE Growth Supplement works
L-cysteine is an essential growth factor for Legionella. Plates without it (BCYE-Cys) serve as the control in the confirmation test, so the supplement is added only to the BCYE plates.
Technical data
| Composition | L-cysteine hydrochloride 40 mg per vial |
| Use | Dissolve in 1 mL sterile water or saline; 1 vial per 100 mL BCYE Agar Base at about 50 °C |
| Storage | 2–8 °C |
Applications and practical notes
Legionella grows in warm water systems and causes Legionnaires’ disease; water is tested according to ISO 11731. Typical applications include:
- Hot and cold water systems in buildings
- Cooling towers and evaporative condensers
- Hospitals, hotels and spa pools
- Industrial process water
Working with BCYE Growth Supplement: Dissolve the vial in 1 mL of sterile water or saline and add it to the sterile base cooled to about 50 °C.
Good practice with media and supplements: 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 the Legionella method: ISO 11731 describes the enumeration of Legionella in water by direct plating or membrane filtration on BCYE and the selective GVPC agar, with incubation at 36 °C for up to 10 days. Presumptive colonies are confirmed by their need for L-cysteine: they grow on BCYE agar but not on BCYE agar without cysteine. L. pneumophila and its serogroups are then identified by latex agglutination. COLO.Science offers media, supplements, latex kits and rapid tests for these steps.
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.
BCYE Growth Supplement is supplied by COLO.Science in the pack sizes listed under Ordering information. For larger quantities, regular deliveries or method-specific sets that include BCYE Growth Supplement, please send us a request. With every delivery of BCYE Growth Supplement you receive the lot number and expiry date, and on request we send the available documentation for BCYE Growth Supplement.
Where BCYE Growth Supplement fits in Legionella testing
- Sample preparation – membrane filtration, with heat or acid treatment for samples with high background flora
- Culture – GVPC agar and BCYE agar, 36 °C, up to 10 days
- Confirmation – subculture on BCYE and on BCYE without cysteine
- Identification – latex agglutination; qPCR or LAMP for fast screening
Ordering information
| Product | COLO code | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| BCYE Growth Supplement | PRO7717 | 10 vials |
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.
