Agar is a jelly-like substance obtained from red algae, used heavily as a solid medium for growing various microbes. Many specific formulations are available because some microbes prefer certain environmental conditions over others.

Brain Heart Agar is a  high-quality full culture medium to be used both for the cultivation of fastidious pathogens from clinical specimens and as a base medium for the production of various special culture media.

Preparation: Suspend 52 g in 1 liter of demin water by heating in a boiling water bath or in a current of steam; autoclave (15 min. at 121oC).

pH: 7.4 ± 0.2 at 25oC

Typical Composition (g/litre):

• Nutrient substrate (extracts of brain and heart, and peptones) 27.5;
• D(+) Glucose 2.0;
• Sodium chloride 5.0;
• di-Sodium hydrogen phosphate 2.5
• Agar-agar 15.0.