Selective medium used to detect gram negative enteric bacteria. Contains double the conc. of lactose than EMB (HH&T) and no sucrose.
Description:Eosin Methylene Blue Agar, Levine is an agar medium which can be used for the isolation, identification and enumeration of the Enterobacteriaceae in water, dairy products, foods, other sanitary products and clinical specimens. Eosin Methylene Blue Agar was first developed by Holt-Harris and Teague. This formula contains both lactose and sucrose with the two indicator dyes, eosin y and methylene blue. The Levine modification does not contain sucrose and the lactose concentration is doubled. Only the Levine formula is recommmended by the USBio for the examination of water and dairy products. In the identification of coliforms for water examinations, EMB, Levine is used for both confirming and completed test and only the completed test for the dairy examination. EMB Agar, Levine contains two mildly selective dyes, eosin Y and methylene blue, which interact under strong acidic conditions to impart metallic sheen to Escherichia coli colonies. In addition, E coli produces dark blue-black colonies. Other coliforms produce mucoid, pinkish brown colonies. Non-lactose fermenting bacteria Salmonella and Shigella, produce translucent or colorless colonies. Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Plesiomonas and Yersinia also grow on this medium. Gram-positive bacteria are inhibited by eosin Y.
Microbiological Analysis:Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212: Partial Inhibition, colorlessEscherichia coli ATCC 25922: Growth, blue-black colonies with dark center and metallic sheen
Storage:Store powdered media at RT. Opened bottles should be capped tightly and kept in a dark, low humidity environment. Prepared media should be kept at 4°C and used within a short period of time. The dehydrated medium should be discarded if it is not free flowing or if the color has changed from the original reddish-purple.
Solubility:Dark bluish to reddish-purple, clear to slightly turbid.
pH (25°C):7.1±0.2
Important Note: This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications without the expressed written authorization of United States Biological.
