B.T.B. LACTOSE AGAR

Staphylococcus are known to be pathogenic to man and other mammals. Although this organism is frequently a part of the normal human microflora, it can cause significant opportunistic infections under appropriate conditions. Traditionally Staphylococci are divided into two groups on the basis of their ability to clot blood plasma (the coagulase reaction). The coagulase-positive Staphylococci constitute the most pathogenic species, Staphylococcus aureus. BTB Lactose Agar designed by Chapman et al, is used in the detection and isolation of pathogenic Staphylococci. On this media Staphylococci are differentiated by their ability to grow at a high pH and in the presence of bromothymol blue.
Plates should be inoculated preferably by spread plate technique and incubated for about 36 hours at 35?C. Typical colonies appear deep yellow (90% approx.) or blue grey (10% approx.). Coliforms may grow but are differentiated by their appearance.

for isolation of pathogenic Staphylococci