Description
Specifications Table
| Product Name | Blood Agar Plate w/ Gentamicin (5 mcg/plate) | MP5304-50PT | Himedia |
|---|---|
| Quantity/Pack Size | 50 plates |
| Form | Pre-poured agar plates |
| Grade | Microbiology grade |
| Application | Gentamicin sensitivity testing, bacterial isolation, and microbiology research |
Product Description
Blood Agar Plate with Gentamicin (5 mcg/plate) | MP5304-50PT | Himedia is a ready-to-use enriched and selective microbiological culture medium designed for the cultivation and recovery of microorganisms from clinical, research, and other microbiological samples. The formulation combines a nutrient-rich blood agar base with gentamicin at 5 mcg per plate, providing enriched growth conditions along with selective activity against susceptible microorganisms.
Blood Agar is a widely used culture medium that supports the growth of a broad range of bacteria, including organisms with increased nutritional requirements. The blood component provides additional nutrients and growth factors while also allowing laboratories to observe characteristic colony morphology and hemolytic reactions. Depending on the microorganism, colonies may produce alpha, beta, or gamma hemolysis, which can provide useful preliminary information during microbial screening and differentiation.
The addition of gentamicin provides selective properties to the medium. Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that inhibits many susceptible bacteria, particularly a range of Gram-negative organisms. Incorporating a defined concentration of gentamicin into the agar can help suppress competing susceptible flora and support the recovery of organisms that are resistant or less susceptible to the antibiotic under the intended testing conditions.
The MP5304-50PT format is supplied as a prepared, ready-to-use agar plate, eliminating the need for laboratories to prepare the basal medium, sterilize it, add blood and antibiotic supplements, and pour individual plates. This can help save preparation time, reduce handling steps, and provide greater consistency across routine microbiological workflows.
Blood Agar Plates with Gentamicin may be useful in clinical microbiology, pharmaceutical microbiology, research, quality control, and educational laboratory applications where enriched culture conditions combined with selective antibiotic activity are required. The medium can be incorporated into workflows involving microbial isolation, screening, colony examination, and subsequent identification.
The presence of blood provides a useful visual background for evaluating colony morphology and hemolytic activity. However, growth characteristics and hemolysis patterns should be regarded as preliminary observations rather than definitive identification criteria. Suspected organisms should be evaluated using suitable biochemical, microscopic, molecular, or other validated confirmation methods where necessary.
The ready-to-use format is particularly convenient for laboratories performing regular microbiological testing. Plates should be stored according to the manufacturer’s recommended conditions and protected from contamination. Appropriate aseptic techniques should be followed during sample handling and inoculation, while incubation and interpretation should be performed according to the applicable validated laboratory method.
Overall, the Himedia Blood Agar Plate with Gentamicin (5 mcg/plate) combines the broad growth-supporting properties of blood agar with defined gentamicin-based selectivity, providing a convenient prepared medium for microbial recovery, screening, and preliminary differentiation in specialized laboratory workflows.
FAQs
What is the purpose of gentamicin in blood agar plates?
Gentamicin is added to blood agar plates to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria while allowing others to grow. This helps in gentamicin sensitivity testing and bacterial isolation.
How should I store blood agar plates with gentamicin?
Store the plates in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Most blood agar plates have a shelf life of several months when stored properly.
Can I use these plates for other antibiotics?
These plates are specifically designed for gentamicin sensitivity testing. For other antibiotics, you may need different plates or additional reagents.
Are these plates suitable for student labs?
Yes, these plates are commonly used in educational settings for microbiology experiments and sensitivity testing.
How long does it take to see results on these plates?
Most bacterial strains will show visible growth within 24 to 48 hours of incubation, depending on the strain and conditions.
