m-Enterococcus Agar

m-Enterococcus Agar (7544)

Intended Use

m-Enterococcus Agar is specifically formulated for the selective isolation and enumeration of enterococci through membrane filtration.

Product Summary and Explanation

Originally described by Slanetz et al., m-Enterococcus Agar was designed to facilitate the enumeration of enterococci via the membrane filtration technique. In 1957, enhancements were made by Slanetz and Bartley through the incorporation of triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), which aids in the recovery of enterococci and promotes the growth of larger colonies when membranes are incubated directly on the agar surface rather than on liquid-saturated pads.

This method is not only straightforward but also bypasses the need for subsequent confirmation, allowing for direct quantification of enterococci within a 48-hour timeframe. m-Enterococcus Agar is also known as m-Azide Agar.

Enterococci, which include species such as E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. gallinarum, and E. avium, serve as significant indicators of fecal contamination in recreational waters. Thus, m-Enterococcus Agar is recommended for the detection of fecal streptococci via the membrane filtration technique in water testing applications. Additionally, the food industry utilizes m-Enterococcus Agar for testing the presence of enterococci, underscoring its versatility in ensuring food safety and water quality.