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Saponin, an inhibitory agent of carbon dioxide production by white cells: its use in the microbiologic examination of blood components in an automated bacterial culture system
Author(s) -
Doorne H.,
Tuuk Adriani W.P.A.,
Ven L.I.,
Bosch E.H.,
Natris T.,
Sibinga C.T. Smit
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1998.38111299056321.x
Subject(s) - saponin , carbon dioxide , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biology , pathology , alternative medicine , organic chemistry
BACKGROUND: Blood components with a white cell count > 100 × 10(9) per L may cause false‐positive results when the BacT/Alert system is used for the microbiologic examination. The effects of different concentrations of saponin on bacterial growth and on carbon dioxide production by blood fractions with a high white cell count, in particular peripheral blood progenitor cells and buffy coats, were investigated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The effect of saponin on carbon dioxide production was studied by adding different fractions of white cell‐rich material (buffy coat or leukapheresis material) to BacT/Alert culture bottles with or without saponin and incubating these bottles. Five bacterial strains were used to inoculate the culture bottles at four levels ranging from about 1 colony‐forming unit per mL to about 10(3) colony‐forming units per mL. Aerobic and anaerobic bottles with and without saponin were used. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that the addition of 0.5 percent saponin to BacT/Alert culture bottles effectively inhibited carbon dioxide production, without affecting bacterial growth. CONCLUSION: Saponin at a concentration of 0.5 percent is a valuable additive to BacT/Alert culture media because it prevents false‐positive results in the examination of white cell‐rich blood components.