MacCONKEY AGAR MEDIUM (as per IP)

Description

MacConkey Agar is the earliest selective and differential medium for cultivation of enteric microorganisms from a variety of clinical specimens. Subsequently MacConkey Agar and Broth have been recommended for use in microbiological examination of foodstuffs and for direct plating / inoculation of water samples for coliform counts. These media are also accepted by the Standard Methods for the Examination of Milk and Dairy Products and pharmaceutical preparations as per Indian Pharmacopoeia. It is recommended for selective isolation and differentiation of lactose fermenting and lactose non-fermenting enteric bacteria. After enrichment of Escherichia coli in MacConkey Broth, it is then subcultured on MacConkey Agar. Gram- negative bacteria usually grow well on the medium and are differentiated by their ability to ferment lactose. Lactose fermenting strains grow as red or pink and may be surrounded by a zone of acid precipitated bile. The red colour is due to production of acid from lactose, absorption of neutral red and a subsequent colour change of the dye when the pH of medium falls below 6.8. Lactose non-fermenting strains, such as Shigella and Salmonella are colourless and transparent and typically do not alter appearance of the medium. Yersinia enterocolitica may appear as small, non-lactose fermenting colonies after incubation at room temperature.