Growth Media Type Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA)

Other common names

This product is widely known under the name Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, although it can be referred to as Sabouraud Glucose Agar or just Sabouraud Agar.

Primary Use

Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) is used for the isolation, cultivation, and maintenance of species of fungi and yeasts. Its low pH helps with the growth of dermatophytes and helps inhibit some bacterial growth.

Non irradiated SDA plates can also be supplemented with chloramphenicol to help inhibit growth of bacteria

Technical characteristics

This acidic medium has a simple formulation but with a high content of sugars.

Fresh pH 5.6±0.2
Irradiated contact plates pH 5.2
Irradiated 9cm plates ph 5.0

Applications

Historically, the main application for SDA was as a non-selective isolation medium for the growth and maintenance of pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi from clinical and nonclinical specimens.

It became increasingly popular for environmental monitoring within the pharmaceutical industry for total counting of yeasts and moulds, and is generally used to supplement the use of TSA.

Related reading:

• Environmental monitoring discussion sessions at Pharmig
• Considerations for environmental monitoring plates
• NECC tragedy: lessons learned about cleanroom environmental conditions