Bile Esculin Agar Base 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 is advisable to store this product below 30C.

Quantity provided: 500 g/pack

Bile Esculin Agar Base is a differential medium recommended for isolation and presumptive identification of group D Streptococci from food and pharmaceutical products. Group D Streptococci possess the group D lipoteichoic acid antigen in their cell walls. Former Group D species, which are predominant normal inhabitants of the human gastrointestinal tract, are termed as faecal Streptococci or Enterococci. The unique ability of Enterococci to split esculin was reported by Meyer and Schonfeld. Enterococci and Group D Streptococci hydrolyse esculin to esculetin and dextrose, which reacts with ferric citrate producing brownish black precipitate. 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 serve 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. Esculetin reacts with ferric citrate to form a dark brown or black complex, visualized as a zone of black precipitate around the colonies. 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. Viridans Streptococci sometimes exhibit a weak positive reaction.