Measurement of redox potential changes in anaerobic culture media caused by addition of blood.

A method has been described whereby the redox potential of unsealed and manipulated samples of solution can be determined. This method includes treating the platinum electrode with strong cleaning solution, adjusting the electrode with a culture of Proteus vulgaris in tryptic soy broth, and doing all manipulations inside a glove box that is continuously flushed with oxygen-free gas. This study has shown that prereduced media are much more reduced than media which have been dispensed only under a partial vacuum. It also has shown that addition of blood to prereduced medium does not eliminate the strongly reducing condition of the medium although there is a slight rise in redox potential.