BacterPlate™ Plate Count Agar (PCA)

Ready-to-use medium on 90mm plates for counting colony. Applied to determine the total number of aerobic bacteria.
Code: 05001
Packaging: 10 plates/ box or as per customer request.
Storage Conditions: 2–8°C.
Transportation: Ambient temperature.
Shelf Life: 04 months from the date of manufacture.

INTENDED USE

BacterPlate™ Plate Count Agar (PCA) containing glucose and yeast extract is used in food bacteriology to enumerate aerobic bacteria in milk, meats, meat-based products, other food products, as well as for the analysis of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and their associated raw materials.
It is also used for the enumeration psychrotrophic microorganisms.
The typical composition corresponds to that defined in the standards NF EN ISO 4833-1 & 2, NF ISO 17410, XP V08-034; T90-425 and ISO 14461-1.
The packaging with semi-permeable Cellophane film helps balance the humidity of the environment during storage.

PRINCIPLE

The nutrients supplied by Tryptone, vitamins from yeast extract, and glucose used as energy source favor the growth of most bacteria. In dairy bacteriology, it is recommended to add 1 g of powdered skim milk per liter of reconstituted media (PCA with Skimmed Milk)

Surface inoculation (NF EN ISO 4833-2):

Dry the plates in an incubator with the covers partially removed.
Transfer 0,1 mL of the sample to test to the surface of the BacterPlate™ Plate Count Agar (PCA) along with its serial dilutions.
Inoculate the plate by using a sterile triangle.
Incubate at 30 ± 1°C for 72 ± 3 hours.

NOTE:

A spiral inoculation system can also be used.
For the detection of psychrotrophic bacteria in foods (NF ISO 17410), incubate the plates for 10 days at 6,5 °C.

RESULTS

Count plates containing less than 300 colonies

BacterLab ensures the quality of each product batch by testing with ATCC reference strains.

Reference strains	Incubation conditions	Expected results
E. coli ATCC 35218	Incubate for 48 – 72 hours at 35 – 37 °C	P_R ≥ 70%
S. aureus ATCC 25923	Incubate for 48 – 72 hours at 35 – 37 °C	P_R ≥ 70%

For 1 liter of medium

Tryptone	5,0 g
Yeast extract	2,5 g
Glucose	1,0 g
Agar	12,0 g

pH of the ready-to-use medium at 25°C: 7,0 ± 0,2

*Please note that this composition is for reference purposes. Additionally, Our company will prepare the components as required or according to the tender documents.