Antibiotic assay sample calculation

Prepare as follows, or by other suitable means, the potassium phosphate buffers required for the antibiotic under assay. The buffers are sterilized after preparation, and the pH specified in each case is the pH after sterilization.

BUFFER NO. 1, 1 PERCENT, pH 6.0— Dissolve 2.0 g of dibasic potassium phosphate and 8.0 g of monobasic potassium phosphate in 1000 mL of water. Adjust with 18 N phosphoric acid or 10 N potassium hydroxide to a pH of 6.0 ± 0.05.

BUFFER NO. 3, 0.1 M, pH 8.0— Dissolve 16.73 g of dibasic potassium phosphate and 0.523 g of monobasic potassium phosphate in 1000 mL of water. Adjust with 18 N phosphoric acid or 10 N potassium hydroxide to a pH of 8.0 ± 0.1.

BUFFER NO. 4, 0.1 M, pH 4.5— Dissolve 13.61 g of monobasic potassium phosphate in 1000 mL of water. Adjust with 18 N phosphoric acid or 10 N potassium hydroxide to a pH of 4.5 ± 0.05.

BUFFER NO. 6, 10 PERCENT, pH 6.0— Dissolve 20.0 g of dibasic potassium phosphate and 80.0 g of monobasic potassium phosphate in 1000 mL of water. Adjust with 18 N phosphoric acid or 10 N potassium hydroxide to a pH of 6.0 ± 0.05.

BUFFER NO. 10, 0.2 M, pH 10.5— Dissolve 35.0 g of dibasic potassium phosphate in 1000 mL of water, and add 2 mL of 10 N potassium hydroxide. Adjust with 18 N phosphoric acid or 10 N potassium hydroxide to a pH of 10.5 ± 0.1.

BUFFER NO. 16, 0.1 M, pH 7.0— Dissolve 13.6 g of dibasic potassium phosphate and 4.0 g of monobasic potassium phosphate in 1000 mL of water. Adjust with 18 N phosphoric acid or 10 N potassium hydroxide to a pH of 7.0 ± 0.2.

OTHER SOLUTIONS — Use the substances specified under Reagents, Indicators, and Solutions . For water, use Purified Water . For saline, use Sodium Chloride Injection. Dilute formaldehyde is Formaldehyde Solution diluted with water 1:3.

The potency of antibiotics is designated in either “Units” or “µg” of activity. In each case the “Unit” or “µg” of antibiotic activity is established and defined by the designated federal master standard for that antibiotic. The corresponding USP Reference Standard is calibrated in terms of the master standard. USP Reference Standards for antibiotic substances are held and distributed by the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc.

The concept of “µg” of activity originated from the situation where the antibiotic preparation selected as the reference standard was thought to consist entirely of a single chemical entity and was therefore assigned a potency of 1000 “µg” per mg. In several such instances, as a result of the development of manufacturing and purification methods for particular antibiotics, preparations became available that contained more than 1000 “µg” of activity per mg. It was then understood that such preparations had an activity equivalent to a given number of “µg” of the original reference standard. In most instances, however, the “µg” of activity is exactly equivalent numerically to the µg (weight) of the pure substance. Complications arise in some situations, e.g., where an antibiotic exists as the free base and in salt form, and the “µg” of activity has been defined in terms of one such form; where the antibiotic substance consists of a number of components having close chemical similarity but differing antibiotic activity; or where the potencies of a family of antibiotics are expressed in terms of a reference standard consisting of a single member which, however, might itself be heterogeneous. In such cases the “µg” of activity defined in terms of a “Master Standard” is tantamount to a “Unit.” The “µg” of activity should therefore not be assumed necessarily to correspond to the µg (weight) of the antibiotic substance.

To prepare a stock solution, dissolve a quantity of the USP Reference Standard of a given antibiotic, accurately weighed, or the entire contents of a vial of USP Reference Standard, where appropriate, in the solvent specified in that table, and then dilute to the required concentration as indicated. Store in a refrigerator, and use within the period indicated. On the day of the assay, prepare from the stock solution five or more test dilutions, the successive solutions increasing stepwise in concentration, usually in the ratio of 1:1.25 for a cylinder-plate assay or smaller for a turbidimetric assay. Use the final diluent specified and a sequence such that the middle or median has the concentration designated.

From the information available for the preparation to be assayed (the “Unknown”), assign to it an assumed potency per unit weight or volume, and on this assumption prepare on the day of the assay a stock solution and test dilution as specified for each antibiotic but with the same final diluent as used for the USP Reference Standard. The assay with five levels of the Standard requires only one level of the Unknown at a concentration assumed equal to the median level of the Standard.

The test organism for each antibiotic is listed in Table 2 , together with its identification number in the American Type Culture Collection. The method of assay is given for each in Table 1 . Maintain a culture on slants of the medium and under the incubation conditions specified in Table 3 , and transfer weekly to fresh slants. For K. pneumoniae use a noncapsulated culture. For Enterococcus hirae, stab cultures may be used.

NOTES— “ B ” denotes “buffer,” and the number following refers to the potassium phosphate buffers defined in this chapter.

For amphotericin B, colistimethate sodium, and nystatin, prepare the USP Reference Standard solutions and the sample test solution simultaneously.

For amphotericin B, further dilute the stock solution with dimethyl sulfoxide to give concentrations of 12.8, 16, 20, 25, and 31.2 µg per mL prior to making the test dilutions. The Test Dilution of the sample should contain the same amount of dimethyl sulfoxide as the test dilutions of the USP Reference Standard.

For bacitracin zinc, each of the Standard test dilutions should contain the same amount of hydrochloric acid as the Test Dilution of the sample.

For neomycin turbidimetric assay, dilute the 100-µg-per-mL stock solution quantitatively with Buffer No. 3 to obtain a solution having a concentration equivalent to 25.0 µg of neomycin per mL. To separate 50-mL volumetric flasks add 1.39, 1.67, 2.00, 2.40, and 2.88 mL of this solution, add 5.0 mL of 0.01 N hydrochloric acid to each flask, dilute with Buffer No. 3 to volume, and mix to obtain solutions having concentrations of 0.69, 0.83, 1.0, 1.2, and 1.44 µg of neomycin per mL. Use these solutions to prepare the standard response line.

For nystatin, further dilute the stock solution with dimethylformamide to give concentrations of 256, 320, 400, 500, and 624 Units per mL prior to making the test dilutions. Prepare the standard response line solutions simultaneously with dilutions of the sample to be tested. The Test Dilution of the sample should contain the same amount of dimethylformamide as the test dilutions of the Standard. Use red low-actinic glassware.

For Polymyxin B, prepare the stock solution by adding 2 mL of water for each 5 mg of the weighed USP Reference Standard material.

* American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas VA 20110-2209. (http://www.atcc.org).

NOTE— For Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 25619) in the assay of Carbenicillin, use 0.5 mL of a 1:25 dilution of the stock suspension per 100 mL of Medium 10 .

Preparatory to an assay, remove the growth from a recently grown slant or culture of the organism, with 3 mL of sterile saline TS and sterile glass beads. Inoculate the surface of 250 mL of the agar medium specified for that organism in Table 3 and contained on the flat side of a Roux bottle except in the case of Enterococcus hirae and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 9144), which are grown in a liquid medium. Spread the suspension evenly over the surface of the agar with the aid of sterile glass beads, and incubate at the temperature shown for approximately the indicated length of time. At the end of this period, prepare the stock suspension by collecting the surface growth in 50 mL of sterile saline TS, except for Bleomycin (use 50 mL of Medium 34 ).

Determine by trial the quantity of stock suspension to be used as the Inoculum , starting with the volume suggested in Table 3 . The trial tests should be incubated for the times indicated in the section Turbidimetric Method for Procedure . Adjust the quantity of Inoculum on a daily basis, if necessary, to obtain the optimum dose-response relationship from the amount of growth of the test organism in the assay tubes and the length of the time of incubation. At the completion of the incubation periods described in the section Turbidimetric Method for Procedure , tubes containing the median dose of the Standard should have absorbances of at least 0.3 absorbance unit, except for Amikacin, Chlortetracycline, Gramicidin, and Tetracycline (0.35 absorbance unit), and Capreomycin, Methacycline, and Tobramycin (0.4 absorbance unit).

For the cylinder-plate assay, determine by trial the proportions of stock suspension to be incorporated in the Inoculum , starting with the volumes indicated in Table 3 , that result in satisfactory demarcation of the zones of inhibition of about 14 to 16 mm in diameter and giving a reproducible dose relationship. Prepare the inoculum by adding a portion of stock suspension to a sufficient amount of agar medium that has been melted and cooled to 45 to 50, and swirling to attain a homogeneous suspension.

Microbial assays gain markedly in precision by the segregation of relatively large sources of potential error and bias through suitable experimental designs. In a cylinder-plate assay, the essential comparisons are restricted to relationships between zone diameter measurements within plates, exclusive of the variation between plates in their preparation and subsequent handling. To conduct a turbidimetric assay so that the differences in observed turbidity will reflect the differences in the antibiotic concentration requires both greater uniformity in the environment created for the tubes through closer thermostatic control of the incubator and the avoidance of systematic bias by use of a random placement of replicate tubes in separate tube racks, each rack containing one complete set of treatments. The essential comparisons are then restricted to relationships between the observed turbidities within racks.

NOTE— For some purposes, the practice is to design the assay so that a set of treatments consists of not fewer than three tubes for each sample and standard concentration, and each set is placed in a single rack.

Within these restrictions, the assay design recommended is a 1-level assay with a standard curve. For this assay with a standard curve, prepare solutions of 5, 6, or more test dilutions, provided they include one corresponding to the reference concentration ( S 3 ), of the Standard and a solution of a single median test level of the Unknown as described under Preparation of Standard and Preparation of the Sample . Consider an assay as preliminary if its computed potency with either design is less than 80% or more than 125% of that assumed in preparing the stock solution of the Unknown. In such a case, adjust its assumed potency accordingly and repeat the assay.

Microbial determinations of potency are subject to inter-assay as well as intra-assay variables, so that two or more independent assays are required for a reliable estimate of the potency of a given assay preparation or Unknown. Starting with separately prepared stock solutions and test dilutions of both the Standard and the Unknown, repeat the assay of a given Unknown on a different day. If the estimated potency of the second assay differs significantly, as indicated by the calculated standard error, from that of the first, conduct one or more additional assays. The combined result of a series of smaller, independent assays spread over a number of days is a more reliable estimate of potency than that from a single large assay with the same total number of plates or tubes.

To prepare assay plates using Petri dishes, place 21 mL of Medium 2 in each of the required number of plates, and allow it to harden into a smooth base layer of uniform depth, except for Amphotericin B and Nystatin, where no separate base layer is used. For Erythromycin, Gentamicin, Neomycin B, Paromomycin, and Sisomicin, use Medium 11 . For Bleomycin, use 10 mL of Medium 35 . For Dihydrostreptomycin use Medium 5 . For Vancomycin, use 10 mL of Medium 8 . For Carbenicillin, Colistimethate Sodium, Colistin, and Polymyxin B, use Medium 9 . For Netilmicin, use 20 mL of Medium 11 . Add 4 mL of seed layer inoculum (see Preparation of Inoculum and Table 3 ), prepared as directed for the given antibiotic, except for Bleomycin (use 6 mL), for Netilmicin (use 5 mL), and for Nystatin and Amphotericin B (use 8 mL), tilting the plate back and forth to spread the inoculum evenly over the surface, and allow it to harden. Drop six assay cylinders on the inoculated surface from a height of 12 mm, using a mechanical guide or other device to insure even spacing on a radius of 2.8 cm, and cover the plates to avoid contamination. After filling the six cylinders on each plate with dilutions of antibiotic containing the test levels specified below, incubate the plates at 32 to 35, or at the temperature specified below for the individual case, for 16 to 18 hours, remove the cylinders, and measure and record the diameter of each zone of growth inhibition to the nearest 0.1 mm. Incubate the plates at 29 to 31 for Amphotericin B and Nystatin. Incubate at 34 to 36 for Novobiocin. Incubate at 36 to 37.5 for Carbenicillin, Colistimethate Sodium, Colistin, Dihydrostreptomycin, Gentamicin, Neomycin, Netilmicin, Paromomycin, Polymyxin B, Sisomicin, and Vancomycin.

For the 1-level assay with a standard curve, prepare dilutions representing five test levels of the Standard ( S 1 to S 5 ) and a single test level of the Unknown U 3 corresponding to S 3 of the standard curve, as defined under Preparation of the Standard and Preparation of the Sample . For deriving the standard curve, fill alternate cylinders on each of three plates with the median test dilution ( S 3 ) of the Standard and each of the remaining nine cylinders with one of the other four dilutions of the Standard. Repeat the process for the three dilutions of the Standard. For each Unknown, fill alternate cylinders on each of three plates with the median test dilution of the Standard ( S 3 ), and the remaining nine cylinders with the corresponding test dilution ( U 3 ) of the Unknown.

On the day of the assay, prepare the necessary doses by dilution of stock solutions of the Standard and of each Unknown as defined under Preparation of the Standard and Preparation of the Sample. Add 1.0 mL of each dose, except for Gramicidin, Thiostrepton, and Tylosin (use 0.10 mL) to each of 3 prepared test tubes, and place the 3 replicate tubes in a position, selected at random, in a test tube rack or other carrier. Include similarly in each rack 1 or 2 control tubes containing 1 mL of the test diluent (see Table 1 ) but no antibiotic. Upon completion of the rack of test solutions (with Candicidin, within 30 minutes of the time when water is added to the dimethyl sulfoxide stock solution), add 9.0 mL of inoculum to each tube in the rack in turn, and place the completed rack immediately in an incubator or a water bath maintained at 36 to 37.5, except for Candicidin (incubate at 27 to 29). Incubate the tubes for 4 to 5 hours, except for Capreomycin, Chloramphenicol, Cycloserine, Dihydrostreptomycin, Spectinomycin, Streptomycin, and Troleandomycin (incubate these for 3 to 4 hours), Tylosin (incubate for 3 to 5 hours), and Candicidin (incubate for 16 to 18 hours). After incubation add 0.5 mL of dilute formaldehyde to each tube, except for Tylosin (heat the rack in a water bath at 80 to 90 for 2 to 6 minutes or in a steam bath for 5 to 10 minutes, and bring to room temperature), taking one rack at a time, and read its transmittance or absorbance in a suitable spectrophotometer fitted with a 530-nm or 580-nm filter (see Spectrophotometer under Apparatus ).

For the 1-level assay with a standard curve, prepare dilutions representing 5 test levels of the Standard ( S 1 to S 5 ) and a single test level ( U 3 ) of each of up to 20 Unknowns corresponding to S 3 of the Standard. Prepare also an extra S 3 as a test of growth. Add 1 mL of each test dilution, except for Gramicidin, Thiostrepton, and Tylosin (use 0.10 mL) to 3 tubes and 1 mL of antibiotic-free diluent to 6 tubes as controls. Distribute one complete set, including 2 tubes of controls, to a tube rack, intermingling them at random. Add 9.0 mL of inoculum, except for Thiostrepton (use 10.0 mL of inoculum), incubate, add 0.5 mL of dilute formaldehyde, and complete the assay as directed above. Determine the exact duration of incubation by observation of growth in the reference concentration (median dose) of the dilutions of the Standard ( S 3 ).

To calculate the potency from the data obtained either by the cylinder-plate or by the turbidimetric method, proceed in each case as directed under Potencies Interpolated from a Standard Curve (see Design and Analysis of Biological Assays 111 ), using a log transformation, straight-line method with a least-squares fitting procedure, and a test for linearity. Where a number of assays of the same material are made with the same standard curve, calculate the coefficient of variation of results of all of the assays of the material. Where more than one assay is made of the same material with different standard curves, average the two or more values of the potency.