BACT/ALERT^® Culture Media

Minimize False Negatives

BACT/ALERT Culture media combines colorimetric technology with sophisticated algorithms to minimize the incidence of false negatives due to delayed entry into the BACT/ALERT system.  Specialized Liquid Emulsion Sensors (LES) at the bottom of each culture bottle visibly change color in response to shifts in pH as a result of rising CO₂ levels produced by microorganisms.  

The BACT/ALERT instrument measures the color changes every ten minutes and analyzes them using algorithms that include a unique "threshold" algorithm to ensure early detection of microorganisms.  In the event that bottles are delayed in transit, the visible, irreversible color change helps identify potentially positive bottles before they are entered into the system.  In addition to minimizing false negatives, BACT/ALERT Culture Media also has a low rate of false positives.

Reliable Microorganism Recovery

BACT/ALERT Culture Media provides a wide range of media bottles to rapidly and reliably recover an array of microorganisms, including bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and yeasts from various sample types.  BACT/ALERT Culture Media is FDA-cleared for blood, sterile body fluids, and platelets, and can detect 98% of isolates within 72 hours.¹

• Fastidious Antimicrobial Neutralization media helps optimize microorganism recovery for patients who are undergoing antimicrobial therapy
• Specialized bottles designed for recovery of mycobacteria

Improve Safety & Efficiency

BACT/ALERT Culture Media bottles are made with a unique polycarbonate material and feature a triple-layer, gas-impermeable design that maintains the appropriate aerobic or anaerobic environment for microorganism recovery.  The bottles can help eliminate accidental spills and are shatter-resistant, which helps reduce the potential for biohazard exposure and glass cuts.  BACT/ALERT bottles are up to 2/3 lighter than glass, can adapt to a variety of protocols, and enable pneumatic transport without a special container.

"OSHA makes it clear: using glass in the laboratory when an equivalent plastic alternative is available must be justified in writing." - Ernst D. Richard Fairfax of OSHA talks about the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (MLO 2003:35(2):32-24)

Optimized Time to Detection and Microorganism Recovery

The next-generation Fastidious Antimicrobial Neutralization Plus media (FAN Plus) from bioMérieux features optimized time to detection and microorganism recovery with an improved environment that fosters microbial growth for bacteria and yeast.  FAN Plus media offers effective organism growth from both blood and sterile body fluid samples, along with growth performance guidelines for use in delayed entry conditions.

Fastidious Antimicrobial Neutralization Plus Media (FAN^® Plus)

FAN Plus media with Adsorbent Polymeric Beads (APB) to neutralize antimicrobials

Bottle Type		Media Formulation	Specimen Type	Specimen Volume
fa-plus.jpg	BACT/ALERT FA Plus Ref: 410851	30 mL of supplemented complex media containing adsorbent polymeric beads	Blood or normally sterile body fluid (SBF)	Up to 10 mL
fn-plus.jpg	BACT/ALERT FN Plus Ref: 410852	40 mL of supplemented complex media containing adsorbent polymeric beads	Blood or SBF	Up to 10 mL
pf-plus.jpg	BACT/ALERT PF Plus Ref: 410853	30 mL of supplemented complex media containing adsorbent polymeric beads	Blood	Up to 4 mL

 

Standard Media

Product		Description	Specimen Type	Specimen Volume
sn.png	BACT/ALERT SA Standard Aerobic Ref: 259789	Polycarbonate plastic bottles to be used with BACT/ALERT Microbial Detection Systems in qualitative procedures for the recovery and detection of aerobic microorganisms (bacteria and fungi).	Blood or normally sterile body fluid (SBF)	Up to 10 mL
sa.png	BACT/ALERT SN Standard Anaerobic Ref: 259790	Polycarbonate plastic bottles to be used with BACT/ALERT Microbial Detection Systems in qualitative procedures for the recovery and detection of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (bacteria).	Blood or normally sterile body fluid (SBF)	Up to 10 mL

Mycobacterium Media

Product		Description	Specimen Type	Specimen Volume
mpculturebottle.png	BACT/ALERT MP Culture Bottle Ref: 419744  To be used with Ref: 414997	Polycarbonate plastic bottles to be used in conjunction with BACT/ALERT 3D Mycobacteria Detection Systems for recovery and detection of mycobacteria.	Digested or decontaminated clinical specimens and sterile body specimens other than blood	0.5 mL
ams.png	BACT/ALERT Mycobacterial Antimicrobial Supplement (MAS) Kit  Ref: 414997	Lyophilized Antimicrobial supplement and Nutrient Supplement to be used with BACT/ALERT MP Culture Bottles

Platelet QC Testing

Product		Description	Specimen Type	Specimen Volume
bact-alert-sa-bottle.jpg	BACT/ALERT BPA Aerobic Platelet Culture Bottles Ref: 423278	Polycarbonate plastic bottles to be used with BACT/ALERT Microbial Detection Systems in for quality control testing of platlets. BACT/ALERT BPA culture bottles support the growth of aerobic microorganisms (bacteria and fungi).	LRAP or LRWBPC	4 - 10 mL
bact-alert-sn.png	BACT/ALERT BPN Anaerobic Platelet Culture Bottles Ref: 423279	Polycarbonate plastic bottles to be used with BACT/ALERT Microbial Detection Systems in for quality control testing of platlets. BACT/ALERT BPN culture bottles support the growth of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (bacteria).	LRAP or LRWBPC	4 - 10 mL

Blood Collection

Product				Description		Packaging
itladaptercap.png		ITL SampLok® Adapter Cap 3  Ref: A100760		Blood culture collection adapter that is smaller and lighter than similar products to make disposal easier and potentially more cost-efficient (female threaded luer).		600 per case
holder.jpg		ITL SampLok® Adapter Cap 3 Insert Ref: A100761 To be used with Ref: A100760		Optional insert for use with vacuum tubes and long-neck culture bottles.		840 per case
vacuette-holder.jpg		VACUETTE® Blood Culture Holder  Ref: 450181		Graduated neck design to accommodate evacuated tubes without the need for an insert (female threaded luer).		320 per case

PRN 054364 Rev.01A

 

bioMérieux provides service and support for BACT/ALERT Culture Media users, including a hands-on training course and unlimited technical support over the phone.

Below are bioMérieux's recommendations for blood culture collection using the BACT/ALERT Culture Media bottles.*

Click to Download

Download Blood Culture Booklet

*This information is given as a guideline only and is not intended to be exhaustive.  This document is not legally binding. bioMérieux reserves the right to modify specifications without notice.

 

Standard vs. FAN^® Media

Weinstein MP, Mirrett S, Reimer LG, Wilson ML, Smith-Elekes S, Chuard CR, Joho KL, Reller LB. Controlled evaluation of BACT/ALERT standard aerobic and FAN^® aerobic blood culture bottles for detection of bacteremia and fungemia. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33(4):978-981.

Wilson ML, Weinstein MP, Mirrett S, Reimer LG, Feldman RJ, Chuard CR, Reller LB. Controlled evaluation of BACT/ALERT^® standard anaerobic and FAN^® anaerobic blood culture bottles for the detection of bacteremia and fungemia. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33(9):2265-2270.

McDonald LC, Fune J, Gaido LB, Weinstein MP, Reimer LG, Flynn TM, Wilson ML, Mirrett S, Reller LB. Clinical importance of increased sensitivity of BACT/ALERT^® FAN^® aerobic and anaerobic blood culture bottles. J Clin Microbiol. 1996;34(9):2180-2184.

Mirrett S, Everts RJ, Reller LB. Controlled Comparison of Original Vented Aerobic FAN^® Medium with New Nonvented BACT/ALERT^® FA Medium for Culturing Blood. J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39(6):2098-2101.

Mirrett S, Petti CA, Woods CW, Magadia R, Weinstein MP, Reller LB. Controlled Clinical Comparison of the BACT/ALERT^® FN and the Standard Anaerobic SN Blood Culture Medium. J Clin Microbiol. 2004;42(10):4581-4585.

FAN vs. BACTEC Plus

Ziegler R, Johnscher I, Martus P, Lenhardt D, Just HM. Controlled clinical laboratory comparison of two supplemented aerobic and anaerobic media in automated blood culture systems to detect bloodstream infections. J Clin Microbiol. 1998; 36(3):657-661.

Pohlman JK, Kirkley BA, Easley KA, Basille BA, Washington JA. Controlled clinical evaluation of BACTEC Plus Aerobic/F and BACT/ALERT^® aerobic FAN^® bottles for detection of bloodstream infections. J Clin Microbiol. 1995;33(11):2856-2858.

Jorgensen JH, Mirrett S, McDonald LC, Murray PR, Weinstein MP, Fune J, Trippy CW, Masterson M, Reller LB. Controlled clinical laboratory comparison of BACTEC Plus Aerobic/F Resin medium with BACT/ALERT^® Aerobic FAN^® medium for detection of bacteremia and fungemia. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35(1):53-58.

FAN^® Plus Media

Altun O, Almuhayawi M, Ullberg M and Ozenci V, Clinical Evaluation of the FilmArray Blood Culture Identification Panel in Identification of Bacteria and Yeasts from Positive Blood Culture Bottles, J. Clin. Microbiol. 2013, 51(12):4130.

Amarsy-Guerle R, Mougari F, Jacquier H, Oliary J, Benmansour H, Riahi J, Bercot B, Raskine L and Cambau E. High medical impact of implementing the new polymeric bead-based BACT/ALERT^® FA Plus and FN Plus blood culture bottles in standard care, Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2015 Feb. Doi: 10.1007/s10096-015-2319-8

Kirn TJ, Mirrett S, Reller LB, Weinstein MP, Controlled Clinical Comparison of BACT/ALERT FA Plus and FN Plus Blood Culture Media with BACT/ALERT FA and FN Blood Culture Media, J. Clin. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/JCM.03063-13.

Lee DH, Kim SC, Bae IG, Kim S, Clinical Evaluation of BACT/Alert FA Plus and FN Plus Bottles Compared with Standard Bottles, J. Clin. Microbiol. 2013, 51(12):4150.

Mitteregger D, Barousch W, Nehr M, Kundi M, Zeitlinger M , Makristathis A and Hirschl AM, Neutralization of Antimicrobial Substances in New BACT/Alert FA and FN Plus Blood Culture Bottles, J. Clin. Microbiol. 2013, 51(5):1534.

Doern C, Mirrett S, Halstead D, Abid J, Okada P and Reller B. Controlled Clinical Comparison of New Pediatric Medium with Adsorbent Polymeric Beads (PF Plus) versus Charcoal-Containing PF Medium in the BACT/Alert Blood Culture System. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2014 52(6): 1898-1900.

FAN Plus Media vs. BACTEC Plus

Fiori B, D'Inzeo T, Di Florio V, De Maio F, De Angelis G, Giaquinto A, Campana L, Tanzarella E, Tumbarello M, Antonelli M, Sanguinetti M, Spanu T. Performance of Two Resin-Containing Blood Culture Media in Detection of Bloodstream Infections and in Direct Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Broth Assays for Isolate Identification: Clinical Comparison of the BACT/Alert Plus and Bactec Plus Systems. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2014 52(10): 3558-3567

Standard Media Recovery

Mirret S, Reller LB, Petti CA, Woods CW, Vazirani B, Sivadas R, and Weinstein MP. Controlled Clinical Comparison of BACT/ALERT^® Standard Aerobic Medium with BACTEC Standard Aerobic Medium for Culturing Blood. J. Clin Microbiol. 2003; 41(6):2391-2394.

Bernard D, Verschraegen G, Claeys G, Lauwers S, Rosseel P. Bilophila wadsworthia bacteremia in a patient with gangrenous appendicitis. Clin Infect Dis. June 1994;18:1023-1024.

Body Fluids

Bourbeau P, Riley J, Heiter BJ, Master R, Young C, Pierson C. Use of the BACT/ALERT^® blood culture system for culture of sterile body fluids other than blood. J Clin Microbiol. 1998;36(11):3273-3277.

Alfa MJ, Degagne P, Olson N, Harding KM. Improved detection of bacterial growth in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis effluent by use of BACT/ALERT^® FAN^® bottles. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35(4):862-866.

Glass vs. Plastic Bottles

Snyder JW, Munier GK, Bostic GD, Bozigar PS, Hanna R. Evaluation of a Plastic Nonvented Aerobic Blood Culture bottle for Use with the BACT/ALERT^® Microbial Detection System. J Clin Microbiol 2002; 40(12): 4757-4759.

Petti, CA, Mirrett S, Woods CW, and Reller LB. Controlled Clinical Comparison of Plastic versus Glass Bottles of BACT/ALERT^® PF Medium for Culturing Blood from Children. J Clin Microbiol 2005; 43(1): 445–447

Petti CA, Mirrett S, Woods CW, Reller LB, Controlled clinical comparison of plastic and glass bottles of BACT/ALERT^® FA medium for culturing organisms from blood of adult patients. J Clin Microbiol 2005; 43(4), 1960-1962

Pediatric

Alpern E, Alessandrini E, Bell L, Shaw K, McGowan L. Occult bacteremia from a pediatric emergency department: current prevalence, time to detection, and outcome. Pediatrics. 2000;106(3):505-511.

McGowan K, Foster J, Coffin S. Outpatient pediatric blood cultures: time to positivity. Pediatrics. 2000;106(2):251-255.

Krishner KK, Gibb P, CorbettS, and Church DEIDRE. Comparison of the BACT/ALERT^® PF Pediatric FAN^® Blood Culture Bottle with the Standard Pediatric Blood Culture Bottle, the Pedi-BACT J Clin Microbiol. 2001;39(8): 2880-2883.

BACT/ALERT vs. ESP

Welby-Sellenriek PL, Keller DS, Ferrett RJ, Storch GA. Comparison of the BACT/ALERT^® FAN^® aerobic and the Difco ESP 80A aerobic bottles for pediatric blood cultures. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35(5):1166-1171.

Doern G, Barton A, Rao S. Controlled comparative evaluation of BACT/ALERT^® FAN^® and ESP 80A aerobic media as means for detecting bacteremia and fungemia. J Clin Microbiol. 1998; 35(9):2686-2689.

Mycobacteria, Yeast and Fungi

Alcaide F, Benitez MA, Escriba JM, Martin R. Evaluation of the BACTEC MGIT™ 960 and the MB/BACT systems for recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens and for species identification by DNA AccuProbe. J Clin Microbiol. 2000;38(1):398-401.

Crump J, Tanner DC, Mirrett S, McKnight CM, Reller LB, Controlled Comparison of BACTEC 13A, Myco/F Lytic, BACT/ALERT^® MB and Isolator 10 Systems for Detection of Mycobacteremia. J Clin Microbiol 2003;41(5):1987-1990.

McDonald, L., Weinstein, M., Fune, J., Mirrett, S., Reimer, L., Reller, B., Controlled Comparison of BACT/ALERT^® FAN^® Aerobic Medium and Bactec Fungal Blood Culture Medium for Detection of Fungemia, J Clin Microbiol 2001:39(2): 622–624.

Other

Bourbeau P and Foltzer M. Routine Incubation of BACT/ALERT FA and FN Blood Culture Bottles for More than 3 Days May Not Be Necessary. J Clin Microbiol. 2005: 43(5): 2506-2509.

Seegmuller I, Eschenbach U, Kamereck K. Sensitivity of the BACT/ALERT^® FA medium for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in pre-incubated blood cultures and its temperature dependence. J Med Microbiol, (2004); 53. 869-874.

 

(From overview tab)

1. Bourbeau PP and Pohlan JK. Three days of incubation may be sufficient for routine blood cultures with BACT/ALERT^® FAN^® blood culture bottles. J Clin Microbiol. 2001; 39(6): 2079-82.