R2A Agar

Enumerate and cultivate heterotrophic bacteria from potable water using Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ R2A Agar. 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 Wasterwater¹. 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 Wasterwater¹
• Superior to plate count agar when using the pour plate, spread plate and the membrane filter techniques³.
• Ready-to-use convenience of prepared media.

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 samples². R2A Agar was found to be superior to Plate Count Agar when using the pour plate, spread plate, or membrane filter techniques³. 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.

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Remel™ and Oxoid™ products are now part of the Thermo Scientific brand.