Types of culture media used in microbiology
Media are of different types on consistency and chemical composition On Consistency: A. Solid Media. Advantages of solid media: Bacteria may be identified by studying the colony character, Mixed bacteria can be separated. Solid media is used for the isolation of bacteria as pure culture. 'Agar' is most commonly used to prepare solid media. Agar is polysaccharide extract obtained from seaweed. Agar is an ideal solidifying agent as it is: Bacteriologically inert, i.e. no influence on bacterial growth. It remains solid at 37°C, and It is transparent. B . Liquid Media. It is used for profuse growth, e.g. blood culture in liquid media. Mixed organisms cannot be separated. On Chemical Composition : Routine Laboratory Media. Synthetic Media. These are chemically defined media prepared from pure chemical substances. It is used in research work. ROUTINE LABORATORY MEDIA These are cl...