Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ R2A Agar (Dehydrated)

Description

• Enumerate and cultivate heterotrophic bacteria from potable water using Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ R2A Agar (Dehydrated)
• The growth of stressed and chlorine-tolerant bacteria recovered from treated waters is stimulated using a less nutritious medium, lower incubation temperatures, and longer incubation times
• R2A Agar is recommended by the American Public Health Association (APHA) in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wasterwater 1
• Information on water quality, such as heterotrophic plate counts, may be used to evaluate the efficiency of treatment processes
• Use R2A Agar for enumeration and cultivation of heterotrophic bacteria from potable water
• Recommended by the APHA in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wasterwater 1 Superior to plate count agar when using pour plate, spread plate and membrane filter technique 3
• Reasoner and Geldreich of the U.S
• Environmental Protection Agency developed R2A Agar for the isolation and recovery of aerobic and facultative heterotrophic bacteria from treated potable water samples 2
• R2A Agar was found to be superior to Plate Count Agar when using the pour plate, spread plate, or membrane filter techniques 3
• In this medium the low nutrients give higher counts in treated potable waters as compared to a highly nutritious medium because these bacteria tend to be slow-growing species and would quickly be suppressed by faster-growing species on a richer culture medium
• This medium contains peptone that supplies nitrogenous compounds and amino acids necessary for growth
• Dextrose is added as a carbon source of energy
• Yeast extract supplies B-complex vitamins and serves as a growth enhancer
• Addition of soluble starch as a neutralizer and sodium pyruvate stimulates the growth of stressed bacteria
• Buffering agents such as dipotassium phosphate and magnesium sulfate maintain osmotic equilibrium.