PHENOL RED TARTRATE AGAR

Phenol Red Tartrate Agar was originally formulated by Brown et al and further modified by Jordon and Harmon, for the differentiation of Enterobacteriaceae especially Salmonella species. This medium can also be used to differentiate V. parahaemolyticus (positive) from Aeromonas species (negative). Phenol Red Tartrate Agar with the addition of sodium chloride (25.0 g/l) can be used to differentiate halophilic Vibrio species e.g. V. parahaemolyticus , V. vulnificus , V. aglinolyticus and V. metschnikovii . On this medium, an acidic reaction is produced by Salmonella Enteritidis , Salmonella Choleraesuis , Salmonella Typhi , Salmonella Typhimurium , Escherichia coli , and Proteus vulgaris . However, organisms like Salmonella Paratyphi A and Salmonella Schottmuelleri produce an alkaline reaction due to non-utilization of tartrate.

for identi?cation and di?erentiation of Salmonellae on the basis of tartrate utilization