Culture & Culture Media

Agar

Derived from red algae

40-50°C

Agar solidifies at

80-90°C

Agar melts at

55-60°C

Cooling temperature for distribution of media to plate

20-25 mL/plate

STD amount of agar

Streak Plate Method

Best way to obtain pure culture

General purpose media

Supports bacterial growth
No supplements/vitamins

Enrichment media

Enhances bacterial growth/yield

Enriched media

Growing of fastidious organisms like Neisseria, Haemophilus
Contains blood

Selective media

Promotes growth of particular organism while preventing growth of other
Contains inhibitor = specificity

Differential media

Differentiate organisms growing together

Transport media

Maintains viability of organism during transport

Biochemical Test media

Used in biochemical testing
Aids bacterial identification