Description
Specifications Table
| Product Name | Blood Agar Plate w/ Gentamicin (5 mcg/plate) |
|---|---|
| Pack Size | 20 plates |
| Form | Pre-poured agar plates |
| Grade | Laboratory grade |
| Application | Bacterial isolation, antibiotic susceptibility testing |
Product Description
Blood Agar Plate with Gentamicin (5 mcg/plate) | MP5304-20PT | Himedia is a ready-to-use selective and enriched microbiological culture medium designed for the cultivation and recovery of microorganisms from mixed microbial samples. The blood agar base provides a nutrient-rich environment for microbial growth, while the addition of gentamicin at 5 mcg per plate provides selective activity against susceptible microorganisms and can help suppress competing bacterial flora.
Blood Agar is widely used in microbiology because it supports the growth of a broad range of organisms and provides an appropriate background for observing colony morphology and hemolytic reactions. The blood component supplies additional nutrients and growth factors that can support the recovery of organisms with increased nutritional requirements. Depending on the microorganism, colonies may produce characteristic changes in the blood surrounding the growth, which can provide useful preliminary information during microbial examination.
The incorporation of gentamicin gives this formulation additional selective properties. Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic with activity against many susceptible Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria. Its presence in the medium can inhibit susceptible background organisms while allowing resistant or less-susceptible organisms to be recovered under appropriate conditions. The selective response depends on the organism and should be interpreted according to the intended application and validated laboratory method.
The MP5304-20PT product is supplied as a prepared, ready-to-use agar plate, eliminating the need for laboratories to prepare the base medium, sterilize it, add blood and antibiotic supplements, and pour individual plates. This convenient format can reduce media preparation time and support greater consistency across routine microbiological procedures.
Blood Agar Plates with Gentamicin can be useful in clinical microbiology, research laboratories, pharmaceutical quality control, educational laboratories, and other specialized microbiological applications where enriched culture conditions combined with selective antibiotic activity are required. The medium may help laboratories recover organisms of interest from specimens containing mixed microbial populations while reducing the growth of susceptible competing bacteria.
The blood component can also assist in the preliminary observation of hemolytic activity. Alpha, beta, or gamma hemolytic patterns may be observed depending on the organism and testing conditions. Such characteristics are useful for preliminary differentiation but should not be considered sufficient for definitive identification.
For dependable results, plates should be stored and handled according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Appropriate aseptic techniques should be used during inoculation, and incubation and interpretation should follow the applicable validated laboratory procedure. Suspected isolates should be confirmed using suitable biochemical, molecular, microscopic, or other validated identification methods where required.
Overall, the Himedia Blood Agar Plate with Gentamicin combines an enriched blood agar formulation with defined antibiotic selectivity, providing a convenient ready-to-use platform for microbial recovery, screening, and preliminary differentiation in specialized microbiological workflows.
FAQs
What is the shelf life of these blood agar plates?
When stored properly, the plates remain viable for up to 3 months.
Can I use these plates for fungal cultures?
No, these plates are designed for bacterial isolation. Fungal cultures require different media.
How does gentamicin affect bacterial growth?
Gentamicin inhibits protein synthesis in Gram-negative bacteria, allowing selective growth of Gram-positive species.
Are these plates suitable for educational labs?
Yes, they are ideal for teaching bacterial isolation and antibiotic resistance concepts.
Where can I buy blood agar plates with gentamicin online?
You can purchase them directly from eqipped for competitive pricing and quick shipping.
