Description
Mitis Salivarius Agar is a selective differential medium for isolating viridans streptococci and enterococci from clinical specimens.
Crystal violet and potassium tellurite restrict much of the accompanying flora, while sucrose, dextrose and trypan blue support differentiation by characteristic colony appearance. Streptococcus mitis forms small blue colonies, Streptococcus salivarius forms larger blue gum-drop colonies and enterococci may appear dark blue to black.
Prepared plates are inoculated and incubated at 35 ± 2°C for approximately 24–48 hours in an atmosphere containing about 5% carbon dioxide. Presumptive colonies require further identification.
