Levine EMB Agar

 

Use: Eosin Methylene Blue Agar, Levine is used for the isolation and identification of Gram negative enteric bacteria.

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. EMB 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 recommended by the APHA for the examination of water and dairy products. In the identification of coliforms for water examinations, EMB, Levine is used for both confirming and commpleted 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.

Need more information? Contact Us for pH, organisms, etc.