High grade Bile Esculin Agar is supplied by Micromaster. It is available in the form of a cream to brownish yellow homogeneous free flowing powder which has a pH in the range of 6.4 to 6.8. It contains bile salts are the selective ingredient, while esculin is the differential component. Enterococcus hydrolyze esculin to products that react with ferric citrate in the medium to produce insoluble iron salts, resulting in the blackening of the medium. It is advisable to store this product below 30C.

Quantity provided: 100 g/pack

Bile Esculin Agar (BEA) is a selective differential agar used to isolate and identify members of the genus Enterococcus. Bile Esculin Agar was also shown to aid differentiation of Enterobacteriaceae, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia from other Enterobacteriaceae genera on the basis of esculin hydrolysis. However, other tests such as salt tolerance should be performed for identifying Enterococci.Bile Esculin Agar Base with added supplements is recommended for selective isolation and presumptive identification of group D streptococci from food and pharmaceutical products. Peptone and meat extract B serves as sources of carbon, nitrogen, amino acids, vitamins and essential growth nutrients. Bile inhibits most of the other accompanying bacteria. Esculin when added as a supplement in the medium is hydrolyzed to esculetin and dextrose. If the media is dispensed in tubes in the form of slants, a positive reaction is indicated by blackening of more than half of the slant within 24-48 hours. If blackening is totally absent or if less than half of the slant is blackened within 24-48 hours, the test is negative.