Tetrathionate Broth Base is used with iodine for the recovery of Salmonella spp. in a laboratory setting. Tetrathionate Broth Base is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions in humans. Tetrathionate Broth Base is used as a selective enrichment for the cultivation of Salmonella spp. Salmonella organisms may be injured in food-processing procedures, which include exposure to low temperatures, sub-marginal heat, drying, radiation, preservative, and sanitizers. Mueller demonstrated the effectiveness of Tetrathionate Broth for enriching typhoid and paratyphoid bacilli while inhibiting coliform organisms. Using modified Mueller’s broth, Kauffmann increased the number of positive isolates. Tetrathionate Broth was used in studies for the poultry industry and in a collaborative study for rapid screening of Salmonella in food. Tetrathionate Broth Base, abbreviated as TT Broth Base, is specified in standard methods for Salmonella testing. The FDA, Bacteriological Analytical Manual incorporate Tetrathionate Broth Base as a pre-enrichment medium for detecting Salmonella in food materials.
