Agar plate
An agar plate is a petri dish that contains a solid growth medium, typically agar plus nutrients, used to culture microorganisms. The medium is often supplemented with specific nutrients to support the growth of particular types of organisms or to differentiate between them.
Composition[edit | edit source]
Agar plates are made by pouring a liquid agar medium into a petri dish and allowing it to solidify. The agar serves as a gel-like substance that provides a stable surface for the growth of microorganisms. Nutrients such as peptones, yeast extract, and salts are added to support microbial growth.
Types of Agar Plates[edit | edit source]
There are several types of agar plates, each designed for specific purposes:
- Nutrient Agar: A general-purpose medium that supports the growth of a wide range of non-fastidious organisms.
- Blood Agar: Contains red blood cells and is used to detect hemolytic activity. For example, streptococcal hemolysis can be observed on blood agar.
- MacConkey Agar: Selective for Gram-negative bacteria and differentiates lactose fermenters from non-fermenters.
- CHROMagar: Used for the identification of specific species or groups of organisms, such as Candida species.
Uses[edit | edit source]
Agar plates are used in microbiology to:
- Isolate pure cultures of microorganisms.
- Perform antibiotic susceptibility testing.
- Differentiate between species based on colony morphology and color.
- Count the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) in a sample.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
- 1. Preparation: The agar medium is prepared by mixing agar powder with water and nutrients, then sterilized by autoclaving.
- 2. Pouring: The liquid medium is poured into petri dishes and allowed to cool and solidify.
- 3. Inoculation: A sample is spread onto the surface of the agar using a sterile loop or swab.
- 4. Incubation: The plates are incubated at an appropriate temperature to allow microbial growth.
- 5. Observation: Colonies are observed and analyzed for size, shape, color, and other characteristics.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Diagnostic algorithm of possible bacterial infection
Agar plate with red blood cells
Streptococcal hemolysis on blood agar
Various agar plates
Trichophyton rubrum on agar
CHROMagar with various Candida species
Ascomycetes on agar
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Agar_plate
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
