PALCAM Agar

PALCAM Agar is a highly selective medium designed for the isolation and cultivation of Listeria monocytogenes, particularly from food and dairy products. With its specific formulation and antimicrobial supplements, PALCAM Agar enhances the detection of Listeria in various samples, ensuring high sensitivity and specificity.

• Selective Isolation: Specifically formulated to suppress the growth of non-Listeria species, ensuring accurate results.
• Comprehensive Nutrient Source: Contains peptic digest of animal tissue, yeast extract, and carbohydrates (dextrose, mannitol, soluble starch) for robust growth.
• Color Change Indicator: Phenol red acts as a pH indicator, providing visual cues for the fermentation activity of contaminants.
• Black Halo Formation: L. monocytogenes hydrolyzes esculin, resulting in a distinctive black halo around colonies, aiding in identification.

Approximate Formula (gm/liter):

• Peptic Digest of Animal Tissue: 23.0
• Dextrose: 0.5
• Soluble Starch: 1.0
• Lithium Chloride: 15.0
• Yeast Extract: 3.0
• Agar: 13.0
• D-Mannitol: 10.0
• Sodium Chloride: 5.0
• Esculin: 0.8
• Phenol Red: 0.08
• Ferric Ammonium Citrate: 0.5

Final pH: 7.2 ± 0.2 at 25℃

1. Suspend 71.9 g of PALCAM Agar powder in 1 L of purified water.
2. Mix thoroughly and heat with frequent agitation. Boil for 1 minute to dissolve.
3. Autoclave at 121°C for 15 minutes.
4. Cool to 45-50°C and aseptically add PALCAM Antimicrobic Supplement (Polymyxin B 10 mg, Acriflavine hydrochloride 5 mg, and Ceftazidime 20 mg).
5. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri dishes.
6. Store the prepared medium at 2-8°C.

• Storage Conditions: Keep tightly capped in the original container at 5-30°C.
• Shelf Life: Dehydrated medium has a shelf life of 3 years from the date of manufacture. Prepared medium should be stored out of direct light at 2-8°C.

For optimal performance, inoculate and incubate at 36 ± 1°C for 24-48 hours. Monitor for the presence of L. monocytogenes through colony morphology and black halo formation.

• Reliable and Efficient: Specifically designed for food safety laboratories.
• Enhanced Selectivity: Effectively suppresses the growth of competing microorganisms, ensuring Listeria detection is precise.
• Easy Interpretation: The color change and halo formation provide clear identification of Listeria colonies.