Oxoid CM0115B No.3 MacConkey Agar Powder

A selective medium giving excellent differentiation between coliforms and non-lactose fermenters with inhibition of Gram-positive micrococci.

Detect and enumerate coliform organisms, including Escherichia coli, while isolating and detecting Salmonella and Shigella spp. in both clinical and food specimens using Thermo Scientific™ Oxoid™ MacConkey Agar No.3.

MacConkey Agar No. 3 is used for the cultivation of Enterobacteriaceae and is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions in humans

A modification of the original MacConkey medium by the addition of selected bile salts, the medium gives improved differentiation of coliforms and non-lactose fermenting organisms while completely inhibiting Gram-positive cocci.

Use MacConkey Agar No. 3 for detection and enumeration of coliform organisms while isolating and detecting Salmonella and Shigella spp. in pathological and food specimens.

• Selective and differential: due to the inclusion of a specially prepared fraction of bile salts in addition to crystal violet, the medium gives improved differentiation between coliforms and non-lactose fermenting organisms while Gram-positive cocci are completely inhibited.
• Easy-to-read: Escherichia coli (red colonies with bile precipitation) is easy to differentiate from Shigella spp. (straw coloured colonies) and Salmonella (Straw coloured colonies).
• Recommended by the American Public Health Association ¹

MacConkey Agar No.3 formulation corresponds with that recommended by the American Public Health Association¹ for the direct plating of water samples for coliform bacilli, for the examination of food samples for food poisoning organisms² and for the isolation of Salmonella and Shigella species in cheese³.