OXOID Plate Count Agar (PCA)

OXOID Plate Count Agar (PCA) – Standard Medium for Microbial Enumeration

OXOID Plate Count Agar (PCA) is a high-quality general-purpose medium widely used for the enumeration of total viable bacteria in food, dairy, water, and environmental samples. Manufactured by Oxoid, it is recognized for its reliability and reproducibility in microbiological testing.

 What is Plate Count Agar?

Plate Count Agar (PCA) is a non-selective medium designed to support the growth of a broad spectrum of non-fastidious microorganisms. It is commonly used in total viable count (TVC) tests, making it an essential medium in quality control and microbiological analysis.

 Key Features

• General Purpose Medium – Supports bacteria from food, water, and environmental samples
• Accurate Microbial Enumeration – Ideal for total viable count (TVC) and colony-forming unit (CFU) analysis
• High Nutritional Content – Ensures consistent and rapid microbial growth
• Reliable and Standardized – Suitable for routine laboratory testing

 Composition (Typical per Liter)

• Pancreatic digest of casein: 5.0 g
• Yeast extract: 2.5 g
• Glucose: 1.0 g
• Agar: 15.0 g
• Final pH: 7.0 ± 0.2 at 25°C

 Principle of the Medium

• Supports a wide range of bacteria for enumeration purposes
• Non-selective → all viable organisms grow
• Visual colony formation → easily countable colonies for CFU calculations

 Applications

• Food and Dairy Testing – Total viable count of microbial contamination
• Water Analysis – Determination of bacterial load in potable and surface water
• Environmental Monitoring – Surface and air sampling
• Pharmaceutical QC – Microbial limit testing and sterility control

 Directions for Use

1. Dissolve the required amount of PCA powder in distilled water.
2. Heat gently with agitation to dissolve completely.
3. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes.
4. Cool to 45–50°C and pour into sterile Petri dishes.
5. Allow to solidify and inoculate with the sample.

 Storage & Shelf Life

• Store in a cool, dry place (10–30°C)
• Protect from moisture and light
• Keep tightly sealed

 Precautions

• For laboratory use only
• Follow aseptic techniques during preparation and handling
• Do not use if the powder shows signs of contamination or caking

 Why Choose OXOID Plate Count Agar?

With Oxoid quality assurance, PCA ensures consistent colony formation, accurate microbial enumeration, and reproducible results, making it the preferred choice for food, water, and environmental microbiology laboratories worldwide.