Lactose Broth is supplied by Micromaster. It is available in the form of a cream to yellow homogeneous free flowing powder which has a pH in the range of 6.7 to 7.1. It is advisable to store this product below 30C.

Quantity provided: 500 g/pack

Lactose Broth is used for the detection of coliform bacteria in water, foods, and dairy products as per Standard Methods. Examination of water, foods, ingredients and raw materials, for the presence of marker groups such as coliforms is one of the most common tests in a microbiology laboratory, partly because of the relative ease and speed with which these tests can be accomplished. Lactose Broth was initially listed as an alternative to Lauryl Sulfate Broth in the presumptive Standard Total Coliform Multiple-Tube (MPN) Test for water analysis. Although it is not the original formulation, Lactose Broth provides excellent results in Eijkman Assays of gas production at 45C, which is a characteristic of Escherichia coli. While preparing this medium it is important to avoid overheating and to distribute it into tubes before sterilization. Peptic digest of animal tissue and beef extract in the medium supply essential nutrients to the organisms. Lactose is a fermentable carbohydrate for the coliforms. Tubes of Lactose Broth are inoculated with dilutions of water or milk, etc. under test, and incubated at 35C and examined for gas formation after 24 and 48 hours. Members of the coliform group are defined as aerobic and facultative anaerobic gram-negative and non-sporing bacilli, which ferment lactose with gas formation within 48 hours at 35C. In testing dairy products, Lactose Broth is used only in the completed test. Large water samples may require double strength Lactose Broth to minimize the final volume.