Description

Plate Count Agar: Essential Medium for Microbial Enumeration

Plate Count Agar (PCA) is a highly effective culture medium designed for the cultivation and enumeration of bacteria in various samples, including water, sewage, and feces. This versatile agar is widely recommended by regulatory bodies like APHA and ISO for accurate microbial counting in food safety testing.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Nutrient Profile: Our PCA contains pancreatic digest of casein, which provides essential amino acids and nitrogenous compounds. Additionally, yeast extract enriches the medium with Vitamin B complex, crucial for optimal bacterial growth.
• Optimal pH Balance: The final pH of 7.0 ± 0.2 ensures a stable environment for microbial growth, making it suitable for diverse applications.
• Easy Preparation: To prepare this effective medium, simply dissolve 23.5g in one liter of deionized water, heat, and autoclave. This straightforward method allows for rapid setup, enabling labs to focus on results rather than lengthy preparation processes.

Applications

Plate Count Agar is particularly useful for:

• Microbial Testing in Water: Accurately assess the bacterial load in drinking water and wastewater.
• Food Safety Compliance: Utilize PCA to ensure that food products meet safety regulations by quantifying microbial contamination effectively.
• Environmental Monitoring: Ideal for evaluating microbial populations in sterile environments, aiding in quality control processes.

Storage and Shelf Life

Ensure the longevity of your PCA by storing it tightly capped at temperatures between 5-30°C. The dehydrated medium has a shelf life of three years from the date of manufacture, while prepared agar should be kept at 2-8°C, shielded from direct light.

Quality Control

After incubating at 35-37°C for 18-48 hours, observe characteristic growth patterns that validate the efficacy of your Plate Count Agar. Consistent results affirm its reliability for microbial enumeration.

Visit our [Food Hygiene Detection Series] for more related products.

Explore our Food Hygiene Detection Series, featuring specialized culturing media designed for the detection of harmful bacteria such as Bacillus cereus, Salmonella, and E. coli.