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The addition of Bile Aesculin Agar to Lab M's range of media for the isolation and culture of Enterococci has ensured the portfolio covers a wide variety of applications for these organisms. The range now includes media specifically designed for use with water, food and environmental samples. Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are common in human and animal faeces and Enterococci are regarded as secondary indicator organisms for faecal contamination in water.

The most recent addition to Lab M's Enterococci range, Bile Aesculin Agar, is widely applicable for the isolation and presumptive identification of Enterococci / Group D Streptococci. The presence of bile salts in the medium inhibits the growth of Gram-positive organisms other than Enterococci or Group D Streptococci and aesculin hydrolysing organisms appear dark brown or black. This medium also enables the presumptive differentiation of the Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia group from other Enterobacteriaceae.

The enumeration and presumptive identification of Enterococci from water is achieved using Lab M's Slanetz and Bartley Medium, which may also be used as a spread plate for other sample types. Kanamycin Aesculin Azide Agar offers selective isolation and enumeration of Enterococci while Kanamycin Aesculin Azide Broth is an enrichment and isolation medium for Enterococci. Used with the most probable number technique Kanamycin Aesculin Azide broth enables the enumeration of Enterococci in food.

For full details of these and other media in Lab M's extensive portfolio visit www.labm.com