Put Some Color Back into Your Lab with Spectrum™ Chromogenic Agars

Spectrum™ is a new differential agar that is used in conjunction with traditional culture methods to aid in presumptive identification of certain common bacteria. When plated on Spectrum™ agar, each organism reacts with substrates contained within the medium to produce a uniquely pigmented colony with distinct morphology. Identification is made by comparing the reactions to a full color reference chart included with your first order.

E. coli organisms produce a pink to purple colony while Klebsiella produces blue to green-blue colonies. Pseudomonas colonies appear yellow to green with a slight to moderate sheen. Staphylococcus produces a white colony and Proteus colonies appear as tan and diffuse. Each color reaction is genus-specific and most organisms will grow out in 16-24 hours.

Spectrum-Plus™ combines Spectrum™ agar and traditional TSA agar w/5% blood into a single bi-plate. Blood agar, a non-differential medium that will support the growth of most Gram positive and negative bacteria, can also help identify certain hemolytic organisms such as Streptococcus.

Spectrum™ and Spectrum™ Plus agar are packaged in boxes of 10 individually wrapped plates for extended shelf life. Complete instructions are included.  

Spectrum™ Agar                  $30.50

Spectrum Plus™ Bi-Plate      $35.50