Intended Use
MacConkey agars are slightly selective and differential plating
media mainly used for the detection and isolation of gramnegative
organisms from clinical,1-3 dairy,4
food,5-7 water,8
pharmaceutical,9-11 cosmetic,6,7 and other industrial sources.
MacConkey Agar is used for isolating and differentiating
lactose-fermenting from lactose-nonfermenting gram-negative
enteric bacilli.
MacConkey Agar Base is used with added carbohydrate in
differentiating coliforms based on fermentation reactions.
MacConkey Agar without Crystal Violet is used for isolating and
differentiating enteric microorganisms while permitting growth
of staphylococci and enterococci. The medium can be used also
to separate Mycobacterium fortuitum and M. chelonae from
other rapidly growing mycobacteria.
MacConkey Agar without Crystal Violet or Salt and MacConkey
Agar without Salt are used for isolating and differentiating
gram-negative bacilli while suppressing the swarming of most
Proteus species.