NUTRIENT AGAR NO. 2 (as per BIS)

Nutrient Agar No. 2 is a versatile all-purpose medium for the cultivation, isolation and maintenance of a diverse range of non-fastidious organisms. It is widely used in bacteriological examinations and can be effectively used for water, wastewater, dairy and food analyses. The formulation is based on IS: 5887 (Part I, II and V) and recommended by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for use in counting bacteria from food and environmental samples (like E. Coli, S. Aureus, Vibrio).

The combination of meat extract and peptic digest of animal tissue offers vital nitrogen compounds, amino acids, peptides, vitamins and minerals necessary for abundant bacterial growth. Sodium chloride provides the proper osmotic pressure of the medium while agar acts as a gelling agent. Biological fluids such as blood or ascitic fluid may be added to enhance the growth or support the growth of more demanding organisms or the pH can be adjusted to enrich particular types. Due to versatility and ease of use, Nutrient Agar No. 2 is a standard culture media for daily microbiological testing and quality control as well as teaching laboratories.

It is a general purpose culture medium