Product Overview
This Plate Count Agar (PCA) Plate is a ready-to-use, general-purpose medium designed for the enumeration and cultivation of total viable bacteria in a wide range of samples. Plate Count Agar — also known as Standard Method Agar — is one of the most widely used media in microbiological testing and is recommended by numerous national and international standards for total bacterial count determinations.
The medium provides a balanced supply of nutrients through tryptone (a rich source of amino acids and peptides), yeast extract (supplying B-complex vitamins and growth factors), and glucose (an energy source). This combination supports the growth of a broad spectrum of aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria, making PCA suitable for routine hygiene monitoring, quality control, and shelf-life testing.
The 90mm format is suitable for pour plate, spread plate, and streak inoculation methods, and the triple vacuum packaging allows safe transfer into controlled environments.
Intended Use
- Total viable bacterial count (aerobic plate count) in food and beverage samples.
- Water and wastewater microbiological examination.
- Environmental monitoring and hygiene verification.
- Pharmaceutical and cosmetic microbiological quality control.
- Educational and research laboratory use.
Composition (per Liter)
- Tryptone: 5.0 g
- Yeast Extract: 2.5 g
- Glucose: 1.0 g
- Agar: 15.0 g
- Distilled Water: 1,000 mL
- Final pH: 7.0 ± 0.2 at 25°C
Performance Characteristics
- Appearance: Light yellow, smooth surface, free from cracks, visible impurities, and bubbles.
- Physicochemical: pH compliant; gel strength 500–650 g/cm².
- Sterility: No bacterial growth after incubation at 36 ± 1°C for 5 days; no significant medium dehydration.
- Growth Promotion: Validated for robust growth with typical colony size and morphology at 50–100 CFU inoculum for Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 9372, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212.
Packaging and Storage
- Format: 90mm × 10 plates per pack.
- Fill Volume: 20–25 mL per plate.
- Packaging: Three-layer vacuum packaging for controlled environment transfer.
- Shelf Life: 180 days from date of manufacture.
- Storage: Store at 2–25°C, protected from light. Do not freeze.
