🦠microbiology review
Anaerobic jar
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An anaerobic jar is a sealed container used to create an oxygen-free environment for the growth of anaerobic microorganisms. It typically includes chemical packets that absorb oxygen and produce carbon dioxide.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Anaerobic jars are essential for culturing obligate anaerobes which cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.
- A common method to remove oxygen in an anaerobic jar involves using gas-generating sachets containing chemicals like sodium borohydride and citric acid.
- The effectiveness of an anaerobic jar can be verified using an indicator, such as methylene blue, which changes color in the absence of oxygen.
- Anaerobic jars are often used alongside other techniques like reducing media to cultivate anaerobes more effectively.
- These jars are crucial for studying pathogenic bacteria that thrive in low-oxygen environments, such as Clostridium species.