Which statement concerning sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS) is NOT true?

Sodium polyanethol sulfonate (SPS) is primarily known for its role in blood culture media, where it acts as an anticoagulant to prevent blood from clotting, thus allowing for the growth of microorganisms within the culture.

The correct statement regarding the use of SPS is that it can inhibit certain antimicrobial agents. This property is crucial because it prevents the antimicrobial substances present in the blood or introduced during the draw from affecting the growth of bacteria, which would be detrimental to the detection of infections.

On the other hand, it is accurate to say that SPS promotes bacterial growth by creating an optimal environment devoid of inhibitory effects from blood components and certain antibiotics. Consequently, it is included in blood culture media to enhance the detection of organisms that might otherwise be suppressed.

Therefore, the assertion that SPS activates some antimicrobials is not true. In fact, one of the primary functions of SPS is to counteract or neutralize antimicrobial effects to facilitate bacterial growth rather than promoting or activating these agents. Thus, the statement regarding the activation of antimicrobials is the one that does not align with the known properties of SPS.