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Principle
- Stuart Transport media is formulated by Stuart while studying Gonococci (1946). Stuart et al (1954) later modified the Stuart Medium for the transportation of gonococcal specimens for culturing. Ringertz fortified with thioglycollate in the Stuart Medium instead of charcoal (1960).
- The medium may be used for the transportation of many fastidious organisms including anaerobes by maintaining the organism's viability without significant multiplication.
- Crooks and Stuart (1959) suggested the addition of Polymyxin B sulfate which facilitates the recovery of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This medium is a chemically defined, semisolid, non-nutrient medium that prevents microbial proliferation.
- The composition of the medium ensures that the microorganisms present are able to survive for a sufficiently long period of time. The medium is composed of sodium glycerophosphate, sodium thioglycollate, calcium chloride, methylene blue, and agar.
- Sodium glycerophosphate along with calcium chloride acts as a good buffering agent and also maintains osmotic equilibrium in the medium. Sodium thioglycollate provides anaerobic conditions.
- The medium provides an adequate degree of anaerobiosis which can be monitored by means of the redox indicator methylene blue. Prepared sterile medium will undergo a slight degree of oxidation at the upper periphery of the medium, however, in the tube or vial exhibits a distinct blue color throughout the medium, it should be discarded.
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