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MacConkey Agar RS Plate
Intended Use
Recommended for isolating and differentiating Gram negative enteric bacilli from specimens containing swarming strains of Proteus species.
Composition**
| Ingredients | g/L |
|---|---|
| Peptone | 17.000 |
| Proteose peptone | 3.000 |
| Lactose | 10.000 |
| Bile salts | 5.000 |
| Sodium chloride | 5.000 |
| Neutral red | 0.030 |
| Crystal violet | 0.001 |
| Agar | 13.500 |
| Final pH (at 25°C) | 7.1±0.2 |
**Formula adjusted, standardized to suit performance parameters
Directions
Either streak, inoculate or surface spread the test inoculum (50-100 CFU) aseptically on the plate.
Principle And Interpretation
MacConkey agars are slightly selective and differential plating media mainly used for the detection and isolation of gram-negative organisms from clinical (1,2), dairy(3), food(4,5), water(6), and industrial sources (7). It is also recommended for the selection and recovery of the Enterobacteriaceae and related enteric gram-negative bacilli. These agar media is less selective since the concentration of bile salts, which inhibit gram-positive microorganisms, is low in comparison with other enteric plating media. Other than that this medium is also used for count of coli-aerogenes bacteria in cattle and sheep faeces (1), the count of coli-aerogenes and non-lactose fermenters in poultry carcasses (8), bacterial counts on irradiated canned minced chicken (9).
MacConkey Agar is the earliest selective and differential medium for cultivation of enteric microorganisms from a variety of clinical specimens (10,11). The original medium contains protein, bile salts, sodium chloride and two dyes. The selective action of this medium is attributed to crystal violet and bile salts, which are inhibitory to most species of gram-positive bacteria. 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 colonies 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, transparent and typically do not alter appearance of the medium.
Peptones are sources of nitrogen and other nutrients. Lactose is a fermentable carbohydrate, bile salts and crystal violet are selective agents that inhibit growth of gram-positive organisms. Neutral red is the pH indicator dye.
Type of specimen
Clinical - faeces, urine and other pathological material, foodstuffs and dairy samples, water samples, pharmaceutical samples.
Specimen Collection and Handling
For clinical samples follow appropriate techniques for handling specimens as per established guidelines (1,2).
For food and dairy samples, follow appropriate techniques for sample collection and processing as per guidelines (3-5).
For water samples, follow appropriate techniques for sample collection, processing as per guidelines and local standards(6).
For industrial samples, follow appropriate techniques for sample collection, processing as per guidelines (7).
After use, contaminated materials must be sterilized by autoclaving before discarding.
Warning and Precautions
In Vitro diagnostic use only. Read the label before opening the container. Wear protective gloves/ protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. Follow good microbiological lab practices while handling specimens
Limitations
- Individual organisms differ in their growth requirement and may show variable growth patterns on the medium
- Each lot of the medium has been tested for the organisms specified on the COA. It is recommended to users to validate the medium for any specific microorganism other than mentioned in the COA based on the user's unique requirement.
- It is recommended to store the plates at 24-30°C to avoid minimum condensation.
- Though the medium is recommended for selective isolation, further biochemical and serological testing must be carried out for further confirmation.
- The surface of the medium should be dry when inoculated.
Performance and Evaluation
Performance of the medium is expected when used as per the direction on the label within the expiry period when stored at recommended temperature.
Quality Control
Appearance
Sterile MacConkey Agar RS Plate in 90 mm disposable plates with smooth surface and absence of black particles/cracks/bubbles
Colour of medium
Orange red coloured medium
Quantity of medium
25ml of medium in 90mm disposable plate
pH
6.90-7.30
Cultural Response
Cultural response was observed after an incubation at 30-35°C for 18-72 hours. Recovery rate is considered as 100% for bacteria growth on Soybean Casein Digest Agar.
| Organism | Inoculum (CFU) | Growth | Recovery | Colour of colony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corynebacterium diphtheriae type gravis | >=103 | inhibited | 0% | |
| Shigella flexneri ATCC 12022 (00126*) | 50-100 | fair to good | 30-40% | colourless |
| Salmonella Paratyphi A ATCC 9150 | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | colourless |
| Salmonella Abony NCTC 6017 (00029*) | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | colourless |
| ## Proteus hauseri ATCC 13315 | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | colourless |
| Salmonella Typhi ATCC 6539 | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | colourless |
| Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 (00036*) | >=103 | inhibited | 0% | |
| Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 (00012*) | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | pink-red with bile precipitate |
| Staphylococcus aureus subsp.aureus ATCC 6538 (00032*) | >=103 | inhibited | 0% | |
| Salmonella Paratyphi B ATCC 8759 | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | colourless |
| Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (00013*) | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | pink to red with bile precipitate |
| # Klebsiella aerogenes ATCC 13048 (00175*) | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | pink to red |
| Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028 (00031*) | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | colourless |
| Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 (00087*) | 50-100 | none - poor | <=10% | colourless to pale pink |
| Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 13076 (00030*) | 50-100 | luxuriant | >=50% | colourless |
| Staphylococcus aureus subsp.aureus ATCC 25923 (00034*) | >=103 | inhibited | 0% |
Key :-
* Corresponding WDCM numbers
# Formerly known as Enterobacter aerogenes
## Formerly known as Proteus vulgaris
Storage and Shelf Life
On receipt store between 20-30°C Use before expiry date on the label. Product performance is best if used within stated expiry period.
Disposal
User must ensure safe disposal by autoclaving and/or incineration of used or unusable preparations of this product. Follow established laboratory procedures in disposing of infectious materials and material that comes into contact with clinical sample must be decontaminated and disposed of in accordance with current laboratory techniques (1,2).
| Product Name | MacConkey Agar RS Plate |
|---|---|
| SKU | MP1702 |
| Customized Product Available | No |

