Bile Esculin Azide Agar is recommended for selective isolation and presumptive identification of faecal Streptococci. Bile and sodium azide inhibits other accompanying bacteria. Esculetin gives a dark brown or black complex which forms a zone of black precipitate around the colonies.
- Appearance: Cream to yellow homogeneous free flowing powder
- Gelling: Firm, comparable with 1.5% Agar gel
- Color and Clarity of prepared medium: Amber colored, clear to slightly opalescent gel with a bluish tinge forms in Petri plates
- Reaction of 5.67% w/v aqueous solution at 25°C. pH : 7.1±0.2
- Cultural characteristics observed after an incubation at 35-37°C for 18-24 hours