Evaluation of the effect of sodium selenate on the growth of mycobacterial stock cultures.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of sodium selenate supplementation (5 micrograms/mL) on the growth characteristics of a variety of mycobacterial isolates. Supplemented Lowenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7H11 agar were compared to nonsupplemented media. Eighteen mycobacterium stock isolates were tested. Selenate supplementation had no predictable or consistent growth stimulatory effect as compared with nonsupplemented media.