Blood Agar Base (Infusion Agar), with the addition of sterile blood, is used for the isolation, cultivation, and detection of hemolytic activity of streptococci and other fastidious microorganisms.

• All-purpose medium
• Heart muscle infusion, casein peptone, and yeast extract provide nutrients
• Sodium chloride maintains osmotic equilibrium
• Agar is the solidifying agent

Infusion Agar is an all-purpose medium which has been used for many years as a base for the preparation of blood agars. Supplementation with blood (5-10%) provides additional growth factors for fastidious microorganisms, and is the basis for determining hemolytic reactions.