MACCONKEY AGAR Nº 2 500 grams/bottle

MacConkey Agar  Nº 2 is a slightly selective and differential medium especially useful for the recognition of enterococci in the presence of coliforms and non-lactose fermenters from water, sewage, food and clinical samples. Bacteriological peptone provides nitrogen, vitamins, minerals and amino acids essential for growth. Lactose is the fermentable carbohydrate energy source, causing a pH drop and a color change in the pH indicator (Neutral red), and bile precipitation. Bile salts  Nº 2 and crystal violet are the selective agents, inhibiting Gram-positive, bile-tolerant microorganisms such as staphylococci and non-fecal streptococci. Sodium chloride supplies essential electrolytes for transport and osmotic balance. Bacteriological agar is the solidifying agent. The presence of intestinal enterococci, is an indicator for faecal contamination, especially when the contamination occurred a long before and the less resistant coliform bacteria, including Escherichia coli, may already be dead when the analysis is carried out.