TCBS is the medium of choice for the isolation of V. cholerae and is widely used worldwide.
TCBS agar is commercially available and easy to prepare,
requires no autoclaving,
and is highly differential and selective (Table IV-1).
However, it has a relatively short shelf life once prepared (3 to 5 days) unless plates are carefully protected against drying.
TCBS is subject to lot-to-lot and brand-to-brand variations in selectivity,
and growth on this medium is not suitable for direct testing with V. cholerae O1 antisera.
TCBS agar is green when prepared. Overnight growth (18 to 24 hours) of V. cholerae will produce large (2 to 4 mm in diameter), slightly flattened,
yellow colonies with opaque centers