Mannitol Salt Agar (500g) – Product Description

Product Description

Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) is used as a selective and differential medium for the isolation and/or identification of staphylococci directly from clinical and non-clinical specimens, based on mannitol fermentation and tolerance to high salt concentrations. MSA is a critical diagnostic tool in clinical microbiology, food safety testing, and environmental monitoring, used to identify *Staphylococcus aureus*. This significant human pathogen can cause a range of infections, including skin and respiratory tract infections, food poisoning, and sepsis.

The Staphylococcus selectivity of MSA is attributed to its high NaCl content, which is lethal to most bacteria but promotes the growth of *Staphylococcus* species. Furthermore, the medium contains a fermentable carbohydrate, mannitol, and a pH indicator, which is capable of a color change due to the fermentation of the mannitol. Acid is a metabolite of mannitol fermentation by bacteria such as *S. aureus*. Acidic conditions produce a lower pH, causing the medium to turn a yellowish color. Fermenting non-lactose fermenters, such as *Staphylococcus epidermidis*, do not produce acid, and the medium remains red or pink.

MSA is a proper, selective, and differential medium for the isolation of pathogenic *S. aureus* from clinical and non-clinical specimens. It is widely used in medical institutions for the recognition of infections, in food safety detection for the identification of *S. aureus* contamination, and in environmental testing for evaluating sanitary standards.

Key Features

• **Selective for Staphylococcus species**: The high concentration of salt (7.5%) in Mannitol Salt Agar prevents the growth of most bacteria, allowing the development of staphylococci, including *Staphylococcus aureus*; thus, it is a selective medium.
  • **Mannitol Fermentation Differentiation**: Mannitol Salt Agar contains the sugar mannitol, which is fermented exclusively by *Staphylococcus* species, including *S. aureus*. This fermentation, being acidic, changes the color of the medium from red to yellow. Non-fermenters like *S. epidermidis* do not produce any discoloration of the medium.
  • **Fast and Accurate Identification**: MSA enables rapid and reliable identification and differentiation of pathogenic and non-pathogenic *Staphylococcus* species by colony morphology and color change.
  • **Wide Applications**: The medium is suitable for clinical microbiology, food safety testing, and environmental monitoring. It is well-suited for screening *S. aureus* from clinical samples (blood, urine, and wound swabs), food products (dairy, meat, and ready-to-eat food), and food production-related surfaces.

Specifications

• **Cat No**: Mannitol Salt Agar 500g
  • **Amount**: 500g (Dehydrated powder)
  • **Storage**: Keep away from light and moisture; store in a cool, dry place. The medium can be stored at 4°C (for 1-2 weeks) for short-term use.
  • **pH**: Usually about 7.4 ± 0.2
  • **Preparation**: Add distilled or deionized water to prepare a 1L solution. Heat to a boil and stir until the powder is dissolved. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Let the media solidify and cool after autoclaving.

Applications

• **Clinical Microbiology**: Mannitol Salt Agar is used for the isolation and differentiation of *Staphylococcus aureus* from clinical specimens, including stool, blood, urine, and wound swabs. It is essential in diagnosing *S. aureus* infections, such as skin infections, food poisoning, and systemic (body-wide) infections, including sepsis and toxic shock syndrome.
  • **Food Safety Testing**: MSA is commonly employed in the food industry to identify *S. aureus* contamination in food, particularly in meat, dairy products and ready-to-eat foods. The medium is beneficial as an indicator for microbiological sanitary control of foodstuffs, ensuring that fewer injurious pathogenic bacteria are present in food, which may cause foodborne diseases.
  • **Environmental Monitoring**: Mannitol Salt Agar is a critical medium used in the ecological monitoring of water, air, and surfaces for the presence of *S. aureus*. It is often a requirement in establishments that produce food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals to comply with hygiene and sanitation standards. It is also used in assessing the microbiological quality of drinking water, with a specific interest in testing water supplies for fecal contamination.

Why Purchase Mannitol Salt Agar 500g from Bright Scientific?

• **High Selectivity**: Due to its high salt content, MSA is formulated to encourage the growth of *Staphylococcus* species and suppress that of most other bacterial species, thereby minimizing false positives during *S. aureus* testing.
  • **Dependable Performance**: MSA provides reliable results time after time for the isolation and differentiation of *S. aureus*, allowing laboratories to issue infection diagnoses and screen for contamination more quickly.
  • **Widely Applied**: Suitable for a variety of microbiological tests such as clinical diagnosis, food safety, and environmental testing.
  • **Faster Shipping**: Fast and secure shipping from Bright Scientific that won’t put your lab behind pace. We know microbiology is a ‘hot feature’, and we meet your deadlines.

Pricing & Ordering Information

• **Pricing**: Contact us to request a personalized quote tailored to your specific needs. We offer payment plans tailored to meet your laboratory’s specific needs and capabilities.
  • **How to Order**: Contact us by phone or email to request a quote and inquire about availability. Our knowledgeable staff at Bright Scientific is available to answer your questions and support your microbiological testing requirements.