Description
Specifications Table
| Product Name | Plate Count Agar Plates w/ 0.15% TTC |
|---|---|
| Quantity/Pack Size | 50 plates |
| Form | Pre-poured agar plates |
| Grade | Laboratory grade |
| Application | Microbial enumeration, water testing, food safety |
Product Description
Plate Count Agar Plates with 0.15% TTC | MP5601-50PT | Himedia are ready-to-use microbiological culture plates designed for the cultivation and enumeration of viable microorganisms in a variety of routine laboratory testing applications. Plate Count Agar (PCA), also known as Standard Methods Agar, is a general-purpose medium commonly used for determining the total viable microbial population in samples such as food, beverages, water, and environmental materials.
The medium is supplemented with 0.15% TTC (2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride), a redox indicator that can improve the visibility of microbial colonies. Metabolically active microorganisms can reduce TTC to a colored formazan compound, resulting in characteristic red or pink coloration. This feature can make colonies easier to detect and count, particularly when colony growth is light or difficult to distinguish from the surrounding agar.
These prepared plates provide a convenient solution for laboratories that require consistent culture media for routine microbial enumeration. The ready-to-use format eliminates the need for weighing media components, preparing the medium, sterilizing it, and pouring individual plates. This can help reduce preparation time and minimize variations associated with manual media preparation, allowing laboratory personnel to focus on sample processing and analysis.
Himedia MP5601-50PT can be suitable for applications involving the estimation of viable microbial populations in food and beverage products, water samples, environmental samples, and other materials where total aerobic microbial counts are required. Plate Count Agar provides nutrients that support the growth of a broad range of non-fastidious microorganisms, making it useful for routine quality control and microbiological examination.
The addition of TTC provides an additional visual aid during colony counting. By producing colored colonies following reduction of the indicator, TTC can help distinguish microbial growth from the background agar surface. However, colony color and appearance should be interpreted according to the applicable testing method and laboratory procedures, as different microorganisms may exhibit varying growth and coloration characteristics.
Prepared agar plates are particularly useful in laboratories where repeatable testing and efficient workflows are important. They can support routine microbiological quality control in manufacturing environments, educational laboratories, research facilities, food testing laboratories, water analysis laboratories, and environmental monitoring programs. The 50-plate pack is suitable for laboratories performing regular microbial enumeration and requiring a convenient supply of prepared culture media.
For reliable results, samples should be processed, inoculated, incubated, and evaluated according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the laboratory’s validated testing method. Appropriate controls should be included where required. The plates should also be stored and handled under the recommended conditions to maintain the performance and integrity of the culture medium.
Overall, the Himedia Plate Count Agar Plates with 0.15% TTC provide a practical ready-to-use medium for microbial enumeration, combining the established properties of Plate Count Agar with the visual benefits of TTC for easier colony recognition and counting.
FAQs
1. What are Plate Count Agar Plates with 0.15% TTC used for?
Plate Count Agar Plates with 0.15% TTC are used for the cultivation and enumeration of viable microorganisms in samples such as food, beverages, water, environmental materials, and other products requiring routine microbial count determination.
2. What is the purpose of TTC in Plate Count Agar?
TTC, or 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, is a redox indicator that can be reduced by metabolically active microorganisms to form a colored formazan compound. This can produce red or pink coloration and help make microbial colonies more visible during counting.
3. Are the MP5601-50PT plates ready to use?
Yes. The MP5601-50PT product is supplied as prepared agar plates, reducing the need for laboratories to prepare, sterilize, and pour the culture medium manually before use.
4. Where can Plate Count Agar with TTC be used?
These plates can be used in food and beverage testing, water analysis, environmental monitoring, microbiological quality control, research, educational laboratories, and other applications involving the enumeration of viable microorganisms.
5. What is the pack size and product code?
The product code is MP5601-50PT, and the plates are supplied in a pack of 50 ready-to-use plates. The product is manufactured by Himedia.
