MacConkey Agar (500g) – Product Description

Product Description

MacConkey Agar is a selective and differential culture medium for bacteria, designed to isolate and differentiate Gram-negative and enteric (typically found in the intestinal tract) bacilli based on their ability to ferment lactose. It is an invaluable means of detecting pathogenic microorganisms in clinical, food, and environmental sectors. This flexible medium is crucial for detecting various pathogens, including *Escherichia coli*, *Salmonella*, and *Shigella*, which cause gastrointestinal diseases.

MacConkey Agar contains lactose, bile salts, crystal violet, and neutral red. These components, in combination, function to differentially and selectively extract gram-negative bacteria while inhibiting the growth of gram-positive organisms. The lactose in the medium provides a differential based on fermentation. When lactose is fermented, an acid is produced, causing the colonies to turn pink. Non-lactose fermenters, however, will appear as white colonies, allowing for differentiation.

MacConkey Agar is commonly used as a differential medium to determine ECG biotypes. It can also be employed to detect pathogenic species of *Salmonella*, *Shigella*, and other enteric pathogens from clinical, food, and environmental samples. The medium is useful for the selective identification of these pathogens, offering the advantage of differentiating them from non-pathogenic organisms in routine microbiological testing.

Key Features

• **Gram-Negative Selective**: MacConkey Agar contains bile salts and crystal violet, which inhibit most gram-positive bacteria, allowing gram-negative bacteria, such as enterics, to grow.
  • **Lactose Fermentation Differentiation**: The medium is used for differentiating lactose-fermenting bacteria (e.g., *E. coli*) from non-lactose fermenters (e.g., *Salmonella*). Lactose-fermenting bacteria produce acid and turn the colonies pink and appear lamellar, while non-lactose fermenters give off white colonies.
  • **Efficient Isolation of Pathogens**: Well suited for isolation of *E. coli*, *Salmonella* and *Shigella*, with the clear differentiation by lactose fermentation and colony morphology.
  • **Consistency and Dependability**: MacConkey Agar was introduced as a solidified differential medium for the isolation of coliforms from water and later developed into a solid growth medium for differentiating lactose-fermenting and non-lactose-fermenting bacteria from clinical stool, urine, and other materials.
  • **Versatile Applications**: Can be used in a combination of microbiological applications, such as food, dairy, pharmaceutical, and clinical. It is particularly beneficial for detecting putative pathogens in clinical samples (e.g., stool samples) and in water or food.

Specifications

• **Cat No**: MacConkey Agar 500g
  • **Amount**: 500g (Dehydrated powder)
  • **Storage**: Keep in a cool, dry, dark place. The medium can be kept at 4°C for immediate use (maximum 2 weeks).
  • **pH**: Normally 7.0 ± 0.2
  • **Preparation**: Add distilled or deionized water to the medium to the desired volume, reheat if necessary to dissolve components. Later, the resulting medium could be made sterile by autoclaving at 121 °C for 15 min. The medium is sterilized using autoclaving and is ready for use after it has cooled to room temperature.

Applications

• **Clinical Microbiology**: MacConkey Agar is widely used for the isolation and differentiation of gram-negative enteric bacilli from clinical materials, such as stool, urine, blood, and wound swabs. It is an essential diagnostic test for gastrointestinal infections such as *Escherichia coli* O157:H7 and *Salmonella*, *Shigella* and *Campylobacter* spp.
  • **Food Analysis**: This medium is utilized for the detection and enumeration of enteric pathogens in food. It is particularly valuable for detecting foodborne pathogens in meat, as well as in ready-to-eat items. MacConkey contains neutral red, crystal violet, and bile salts and is used in detecting coliform bacteria in water and as a selective and differential medium for coliforms in the food industry.
  • **Environmental Monitoring**: MacConkey Agar is employed for testing water and soil to detect and monitor contamination by enteric pathogens. It is a valuable testing method for evaluating the microbiological quality of water intended for consumption, as well as water used in commercial or food production facilities.

Why Buy MacConkey Agar 500g from Bright Scientific?

• **Selective and Differential**: Our MacConkey Agar is designed to grow gram-negative bacteria and to inhibit the growth of other/gram-positive contaminants. The unambiguous distinction between lactose fermenters and non-fermenters ensures reliable results across a broad spectrum of testing.
  • **High Quality + Quality Control**: MacConkey Agar Plates are manufactured under strict quality control conditions; every plate is checked for sterility and for the correct count of plates that exhibit pink colonies, with no growth or minimal growth detected on the agar.
  • **Quick Shipping**: Bright Scientific offers fast and safe shipping of your order, allowing you to place your order and run your lab tests without any hassle.
  • **Extensive Application**: From clinical diagnostics and food safety examinations to environmental testing, MacConkey Agar has been the medium of choice for isolating and differentiating pathogens.

Pricing & Ordering Information

• **Pricing**: Contact us to discuss pricing and receive a customized quote tailored to your specific needs. We offer flexible pricing options to suit a range of needs.
  • **How to Order**: Please don’t hesitate to call or email us if you wish to place an order or have a question. Our professionally trained team of employees is here to help you with all your product questions, order issues, and technical support for your microbiological testing needs.