Special Bile

NZP Special Bile is a water-soluble refined bile product containing a natural mixture of bovine conjugated bile acids and is used as a selective inhibitory agent in microbiological media. It differs from Ox Bile Powder in several ways, thus is preferred for media such as MacConkey broth and agar, Brilliant Green Bile Broth and EE Broth.

The Bile used for Special Bile is carefully selected to contain very low levels (<0.5% w/w) of free deoxycholic acid. Bile powders with high levels of deoxycholic acid demonstrate a toxicity that may be unacceptable for use in, for example, MacConkey media and EE Broth. The colour of Special Bile is carefully controlled in order to provide media suppliers with a consistent product for MacConkey and Brilliant Green Bile Broths, by being light enough in colour for effective and consistent dye coloration. Unlike crude Bile Powders, the product will not form a surface scum or a deposit in culture media.