Experiments were conducted to evaluate a selective nutrient broth containing acriflavine and nalidixic acid for detection of Staphylococcus aureus using an impedance microbiological method. Nine species of bacteria, other than S. aureus, were evaluated using the selective broth to determine if these species could be inhibited. A total of 10 ppm of nalidixic acid inhibited the gram-negative species tested, with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Similarly, 10 ppm of acriflavine suppressed the Staphylococcus spp. examined; however, S. aureus retained the ability to proliferate. Nutrient broth solution containing 10 ppm of nalidixic acid and 10 ppm of acriflavine (S. aureus impedance broth [SIB]) inhibited multiplication of most of the bacterial species tested and allowed S. aureus to be detected in an average of 16.4 h. Fresh chicken carcass rinses and cooked chicken rinses were inoculated with Escherichia coli and S. aureus and assayed using SIB in conjunction with impedance. Results demonstrated that S. aureus could be detected in less than 11.5 h, although the presence of E. coli decreased detection times. Additionally, impedance assays were conducted using five different poultry products to evaluate the sensitivity of the broth for detecting S. aureus. S. aureus could be detected on poultry products when present at low levels (10(1) CFU/ml) in less than 24 h. These studies demonstrated that SIB may be used in conjunction with impedance for rapid detection of S. aureus. However, without further modification, this method should not be used for enumeration of S. aureus from samples containing mixed microflora.