Plate Count Agar 500gm

Description

Plate Count Agar (Standard Methods Agar) for the determination of plate counts of microorganisms in food, water, wastewater, and also from clinical samples.

Formulated as described by Buchbinder et al which is recommended by APHA and FDA for the determination of plate counts of microorganisms in food, water, wastewater, and also from clinical samples. Click for MSDS

Plate Count Agar (PCA) is a widely used microbiological growth medium primarily for the enumeration of viable bacteria in food, water, and other samples. Here’s a brief overview:

Compositions of Plate Count Agar

• Peptones: Provide nitrogen and other nutrients for bacterial growth.
• Agar: Acts as a solidifying agent.
• Water: The solvent for dissolving all components.

Purpose:

• To cultivate and count the number of aerobic bacteria present in a sample.
• Often used in food microbiology and environmental testing.

Procedure:

1. Sample Preparation: Dilute the sample as necessary to ensure countable colonies.
2. Inoculation: Transfer the sample to the agar plate using a sterile technique.
3. Incubation: Incubate the plates at a specified temperature (typically 30-37°C) for 24-48 hours.
4. Counting Colonies: After incubation, count the number of colonies that form.

Characteristics:

• PCA supports the growth of a wide range of bacteria, making it versatile.
• It is non-selective, so both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria can grow.

General Applications of Plate Count Agar

• Food safety testing.
• Water quality assessment.
• Environmental microbiology.