MacConkey Agar

Selective and Differential Culture Media

Specifications

• Product Name: MacConkey Agar
• Type: Selective and differential media
• Form: Dehydrated powder
• Color: Pink to red after preparation
• Composition (approx.):
  • Peptone: 17 g/L
  • Proteose Peptone: 3 g/L
  • Lactose: 10 g/L
  • Bile Salts: 1.5 g/L
  • Sodium Chloride: 5 g/L
  • Neutral Red (indicator): 0.03 g/L
  • Crystal Violet: 0.001 g/L
  • Agar: 13.5 g/L
  • Final pH: 7.1 ± 0.2 at 25°C
• Preparation: Suspend 51.5 g in 1 liter of distilled water. Heat to dissolve completely, sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.
• Packaging: 500 gram
• Origin: Imported

Applications

• Selective for Gram-negative bacteria (inhibits Gram-positive due to bile salts and crystal violet)
• Differential for lactose fermenters (pink colonies) vs non-lactose fermenters (colorless colonies)
• Widely used in clinical microbiology, water analysis, and food microbiology
• Ideal for teaching labs to demonstrate bacterial identification

Safety & Handling

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight
• Handle with gloves and lab coat
• Avoid inhaling dehydrated powder
• Dispose of used culture plates safely following biosafety rules