Description About Baird-Parker Agar(Baird-Parker RPF):
Baird-Parker agar is a type of agar used for the selective isolation of gram-positive Staphylococci species.It contains lithium chloride and tellurite to inhibit the growth of alternative microbial flora, while the included pyruvate and glycine promote the growth of Staphylococci.Staphylococcus colonies show up black in colour with clear zones produced around them.
Baird-Parker Agar is a selective medium for the detection and enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci from food samples.It is widely recommended by national and international bodies. Selectivity is attained with potassium tellurite and lithium chloride. An addition of sulfamezathine is advised only if Proteus species are suspected in the test sample. Sodium pyruvate is a critical component, essential to both recovery of damaged Staphylococcus aureus cells and their subsequent growth. Staphylococcus aureus forms on this medium as grey to black or brown-grey colonies because of tellurite reduction. Staphylococcus aureus colonies with egg yolk factor are surrounded by an opaque zone, frequently with an outer clear zone.