|
MacConkey Agar is a selective and differential culture medium designed to isolate Gram-negative bacteria and differentiate lactose fermenters from non-fermenters. MacConkey Agar contains bile salts and crystal violet, which inhibit the growth of Gram-positive organisms, making MacConkey Agar selective. Lactose and neutral red are included, allowing MacConkey Agar to differentiate between lactose fermenters, which produce pink colonies, and non-fermenters, which produce colorless colonies. MacConkey Agar is commonly used in microbiology laboratories to identify and isolate pathogenic enteric bacteria. The versatility and specificity of MacConkey Agar make it an essential tool in diagnostic microbiology.
|