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m‑Enterococcus Agar | Slanetz & Bartley Agar | AS‑1292
$45.00 AUD
AuSaMicS Life Science • Selective Culture Media
m-Enterococcus Agar
Slanetz & Bartley Agar
The reference selective agar for enterococcus enumeration in water by membrane filtration. Characteristic dark red to maroon colonies — the gold standard for faecal streptococcus monitoring in drinking water, recreational water, and environmental samples.
Cat #: AS-1292
ISO 7899-2 Compliant
✓ Australian Stock
🔴 Red Colony Detection
🚀 Same-Day Dispatch: Australian Stock
💧 Water Testing: APHA 9230C & ISO 7899-2
🌡️ 35–37°C Incubation: 48 ± 2 hours
🏆 Enterococcus Water Specialist
🔴 Red/Maroon Colonies — Visual enterococcus ID
🔬 TTC Reduction — Chromogenic confirmation
📋 Complete Package — COA + SDS included
⚡ Fast Supply — Ships within 24h
📞 Expert Support — Method optimization
Bile Esculin Azide Confirmable
Transfer colonies to BEA for confirmatory testing
🔬 Technical Overview & Biochemistry
m-Enterococcus Agar (Slanetz & Bartley) is a highly selective membrane filtration medium for the enumeration of enterococci (fecal streptococci) in water and environmental samples. Originally described by Slanetz & Bartley (1957), it remains the ISO and APHA reference method for this indicator group.
Selectivity & Detection Mechanism:
Sodium Azide — Bacteriostatic against gram-negative organisms; inhibits cytochrome oxidase
Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride (TTC) — Chromogen; reduced by enterococcal dehydrogenases to insoluble red/maroon formazan
Peptone & Yeast Extract — Nutritive base supporting fastidious enterococcal growth
Glucose — Fermentable energy source confirming metabolic activity
Sodium Azide — Bacteriostatic against gram-negative organisms; inhibits cytochrome oxidase
Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride (TTC) — Chromogen; reduced by enterococcal dehydrogenases to insoluble red/maroon formazan
Peptone & Yeast Extract — Nutritive base supporting fastidious enterococcal growth
Glucose — Fermentable energy source confirming metabolic activity
Colony Interpretation: Dark red to maroon colonies = confirmed enterococci. Pink colonies = presumptive. Cream/colourless colonies = non-target organisms (disregard).
⚙️ Mode of Action
Enterococci reduce TTC via their membrane-bound dehydrogenase enzyme system, converting the colourless tetrazolium salt to an insoluble, deeply coloured red formazan precipitate within the colony. Sodium azide selectively suppresses gram-negative flora by blocking electron transport at cytochrome oxidase — a target absent in enterococci — thereby permitting only gram-positive, azide-tolerant organisms to form colonies. Combined, these mechanisms deliver high selectivity with clear visual differentiation of enterococcal colonies.
📊 Water Microbiology Media Comparison
🧬 Applications
💧 Drinking Water Surveillance
Regulatory monitoring of potable water for enterococcal contamination per ADWG and NHMRC guidelines. Enterococci are a WHO-recommended indicator of faecal pollution.
🏊 Recreational & Bathing Waters
Beach and swimming water quality assessment — enterococci are the primary indicator for marine and fresh bathing water per WHO and EU Bathing Water Directive guidelines.
🏭 Wastewater Compliance
Effluent quality assessment for wastewater treatment plant discharge monitoring and compliance testing.
🌊 Environmental Waters
Rivers, estuaries, groundwater, and stormwater monitoring — particularly valuable where enterococci persist better than coliforms in saline or low-turbidity waters.
Additional Laboratory Applications:
- NATA Accredited Laboratories: Routine water microbiology testing panels
- Aquaculture: Hatchery, pond, and shellfish growing water quality
- Food Processing: Irrigation and process water validation
- Research: Enterococcal ecology, antibiotic resistance studies
- Clinical Microbiology: Environmental surveillance in healthcare
- Council & EPA Labs: Waterway and stormwater compliance
📋 Membrane Filtration Procedure (APHA 9230C / ISO 7899-2)
1️⃣
Prepare Medium
Dissolve 34.0 g/L in purified water. Boil to dissolve. Do NOT autoclave.
2️⃣
Filter Sample
Filter 100 mL (or appropriate volume) through 0.45 µm membrane filter
3️⃣
Transfer & Incubate
Place filter on m-Enterococcus Agar plate. Incubate 35–37°C for 48 ± 2 h
4️⃣
Count Red Colonies
Count all dark red to maroon colonies. Report as CFU/100 mL.
5️⃣
Confirm (Optional)
Transfer membrane to Bile Esculin Azide Agar at 44°C for 2 h confirmatory reaction
⚠️ Important: Sodium azide is toxic — handle with care and avoid drain disposal (explosive reactions with metal pipes). Do NOT autoclave the medium — boiling or steaming only preserves TTC activity and agar clarity.
💡 Protocol Optimization Guidelines
Preparation:
Dissolve 34.0 g/L in purified water. Boil to dissolve completely. Cool to 50°C before pouring. Do NOT autoclave.
Dissolve 34.0 g/L in purified water. Boil to dissolve completely. Cool to 50°C before pouring. Do NOT autoclave.
pH (25°C):
7.2 ± 0.2 after preparation
7.2 ± 0.2 after preparation
Incubation:
35–37°C for 48 ± 2 h. Plates must be inverted and placed in a humid container or sealed bag to prevent drying.
35–37°C for 48 ± 2 h. Plates must be inverted and placed in a humid container or sealed bag to prevent drying.
Storage (prepared plates):
2–8°C, use within 2 weeks. Dehydrated powder: below 25°C, dry and dark.
2–8°C, use within 2 weeks. Dehydrated powder: below 25°C, dry and dark.
📋 Technical Specifications
| Catalogue Number | AS-1292 |
| Common Name | Slanetz & Bartley Agar / mE Agar |
| Format | Dehydrated powder |
| Reconstitution | 34.0 g/L in purified water |
| pH (25°C) | 7.2 ± 0.2 |
| Incubation Temp | 35–37°C |
| Incubation Time | 48 ± 2 hours |
| Positive Result | Dark red to maroon colonies |
| Negative Result | Cream / no growth |
| Selective Agents | Sodium azide, TTC |
| Sterilization | Boil to dissolve — DO NOT autoclave |
| HS Code | 3821.00.00 |
✅ Quality Control Performance
| Test Organism | ATCC | Expected Result | CFU Spec |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterococcus faecalis | 19433 | Dark red colonies, growth | ≤100 CFU |
| Enterococcus faecium | 19434 | Dark red colonies, growth | ≤100 CFU |
| Escherichia coli | 25922 | Inhibited / no growth | ≤100 CFU |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | 27853 | Inhibited / no growth | ≤100 CFU |
🧪 Typical Formulation (per litre)
| Tryptose | 20.0 g |
| Yeast Extract | 5.0 g |
| Glucose | 2.0 g |
| Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate | 4.0 g |
| Sodium Azide | 0.4 g |
| Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride (TTC) | 0.1 g |
| Agar | 10.0 g |
* Formulation may vary slightly between lot numbers. Refer to the current COA for exact composition.
📜 Standards & Regulatory Compliance
- ✓ APHA Standard Methods 9230C — Membrane Filter Technique for Enterococci
- ✓ ISO 7899-2:2000 — Water quality, detection and enumeration of intestinal enterococci
- ✓ BS EN ISO 7899-2 — British/European equivalent standard
- ✓ ADWG 2022 — Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC)
- ✓ NATA Accreditation — Suitable for NATA-accredited water microbiology laboratories
- ✓ WHO Guidelines — Enterococci as primary indicator for bathing water quality
📝 Alternative Names
Slanetz & Bartley Agar
m-Enterococcus Agar (mE Agar)
Fecal Streptococcus Agar
Intestinal Enterococcus Agar
Enterococcus Selective Agar (TTC)
m-Streptococcus Agar
🔄 Cross-Reference / Equivalent Products
Cross-references are provided for convenience. Catalogue numbers are trademarks of their respective owners. AuSaMicS products are manufactured and quality-tested independently.
🧬 Complete Enterococcus & Water Microbiology System
Confirmatory & Complementary Media
Chromogenic Indicators & Substrates
Need Enterococcus Testing Method Support?
Our microbiologists can assist with ISO 7899-2 and APHA 9230C protocol setup, confirmatory testing strategies, and NATA compliance documentation.
For laboratory, research, and industrial use only. Not for food, feed, household, cosmetic, therapeutic, or personal use. Contains sodium azide — handle with appropriate precautions; refer to SDS before use. Results should be interpreted by qualified laboratory personnel in accordance with applicable standard methods.
AuSaMicS Pty Ltd | ABN: 56 676 640 467 | 31 Longview CT, Thomastown VIC 3074, Australia
www.ausamics.com.au | support@ausamics.com.au | +61 412 520 598
Same-day dispatch • Australian stock • Full documentation included