Sterility testing of a total nutrient admixture with a biphasic blood-culture system

The ability of a biphasic blood-culture system to detect microbial contamination of a total nutrient admixture (TNA) was studied. A TNA consisting of amino acids, dextrose, lipid emulsion, electrolytes, and trace elements was prepared under aseptic conditions. Septi-Chek blood-culture bottles were then injected with a TNA sample and with one of various dilutions of five bacterial or fungal suspensions, and an agar slide unit was attached to each bottle. One bottle was injected only with a TNA sample. The bottles were incubated and examined once daily. Each bottle was inverted immediately after inoculation and at each observation time to allow the broth to wash over the agar slide unit. Because the lipid contained in the TNA caused the broth in all bottles to become turbid, it was impossible to determine whether microbial growth was present in the broth. Microbial growth, however, became evident in 24-72 hours on all slide units except the one attached to the bottle that had been injected only with TNA. The Septi-Chek biphasic blood-culture system appears to be useful in evaluating the sterility of TNAs.