Cary–Blair transport medium is a solution used to preserve fecal clinical specimens and rectal swabs after collection. The medium was devised by Sylvia G. Cary and Eugene B. Blair in 1964, who noted it allowed for longer-term recovery of ''

Salmonella ''Salmonella'' is a genus of bacillus (shape), rod-shaped, (bacillus) Gram-negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The two known species of ''Salmonella'' are ''Salmonella enterica'' and ''Salmonella bongori''. ''S. enterica'' ...

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Shigella ''Shigella'' is a genus of bacteria that is Gram negative, facultatively anaerobic, non–spore-forming, nonmotile, rod shaped, and is genetically nested within ''Escherichia''. The genus is named after Kiyoshi Shiga, who discovered it in 1 ...

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Vibrio ''Vibrio'' is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria, which have a characteristic curved-rod (comma) shape, several species of which can cause foodborne infection or soft-tissue infection called Vibriosis. Infection is commonly associated with eati ...

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Pasteurella __NOTOC__ ''Pasteurella'' is a genus of Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacteria. ''Pasteurella'' species are non motile and pleomorphic, and often exhibit bipolar staining ("safety pin" appearance). Most species are catalase- and oxidas ...

'' than other transport media. Cary–Blair transport medium is a modification of a solution devised by R.D. Stuart, S.R. Toshach and T.M. Patsula in 1954 which allowed for high recoverability of '' Gonococci'' from fecal samples. Cary and Blair noted Stuart, Toshach and Patsula's medium and other solutions that allowed for long-term recovery of pathogens from feces were characterized by low

nutrient A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excret ...

content, low oxidation-reduction potential, and high pH. As of 2024, the use of Cary–Blair transport medium is recommended by the United States Center for Disease Control for laboratory testing of epidemic

dysentery Dysentery ( , ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications may include dehyd ...

and

cholera Cholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some Strain (biology), strains of the Bacteria, bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea last ...

if culture will not begin within two hours

References

Medicinal chemistry {{Medicinal-chem-stub