R-2A Agar is supplied by Micromaster. It is available in the form of a cream to yellow homogeneous free flowing powder which has a pH in the range of 7.0 to 7.4. This product should be stored between 10-30C in a tightly closed container. Once opened, it should be properly stored, after tightly capping the bottle. Store in dry ventilated area protected from extremes of temperature and sources of ignition.

Quantity provided: 500 g/pack

R-2A Agar is recommended for heterotrophic plate count of water samples using longer incubation periods. The heterotrophic plate count (HPC), formerly known as the standard plate count is a procedure for estimating the number of live heterotrophic bacteria in water and measuring changes during water treatment, in distribution systems or in swimming pools. R-2A Agar formulated as per Reasoner and Geldreich, is recommended by APHA for estimating the heterotrophic plate count by the pour plate, spread plate or membrane filter procedure. Stressed or injured organisms during water treatment are unable to grow on high nutrient media, since the faster growing organisms outgrow the former. Using a low nutrient medium like R-2A Agar incubated for longer incubation periods allows these stressed organisms to grow well. Acicase, proteose peptone and yeast extract provide nitrogen, carbon compounds, vitamins, amino acids and minerals. Dextrose/ glucose serves as an energy source. Soluble starch aids in the recovery of injured organisms by absorbing toxic metabolic by-products while sodium pyruvate increases the recovery of stressed cells. Magnesium sulphate is a source of divalent cations and sulphate. Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate is used to balance the pH of the medium.