Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), USP, is a selective and differential culture medium formulated in accordance with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) for the isolation and differentiation of Staphylococcus species, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. The high sodium chloride concentration (7.5%) inhibits the growth of most non-halophilic organisms, …
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Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), USP, is a selective and differential culture medium formulated in accordance with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) for the isolation and differentiation of Staphylococcus species, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. The high sodium chloride concentration (7.5%) inhibits the growth of most non-halophilic organisms, making the medium highly selective for staphylococci.
The inclusion of mannitol as a fermentable carbohydrate and phenol red as a pH indicator enables visual differentiation based on fermentation. Staphylococcus aureus ferments mannitol, producing acid and turning the medium yellow, whereas non-fermenters such as Staphylococcus epidermidis maintain the red color of the medium.
Each plate is filled with 20mL of MSA agar in mono packaging (not individually wrapped), making it suitable for cleanroom handling and routine laboratory use. This format is ideal for microbiological testing in pharmaceutical quality control, food safety labs, environmental monitoring, and clinical microbiology.
- Complies with USP standards for microbial testing
- Selective for salt-tolerant Staphylococcus species
- Differentiates S. aureus via mannitol fermentation and pH shift
- 20mL fill provides consistent plating surface and extended usability
- Mono-packaged plates in sets of 10 for efficient workflow
- Ideal for pharmaceutical, clinical, food, and environmental applications
Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), USP, is a trusted tool for labs that require accurate and reliable identification of Staphylococcus species in regulated and research settings.
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