Agar Plates and Incubators

Targeted Microorganism Cultivation with Agar Plates & Incubators 

Testing for bacterial contamination is done by growing bacteria on agar plates, a technique practised in most labs, hospitals or water treatment companies. Petri dishes are designed specifically for microbiology or cell culture use and are used to hold thin layers of solid media, usually solidified with agar. A dip slide (or dipslide) is used for testing for the presence of microorganisms in liquids.

Culture media, Petri dishes or dipslides, and incubators are mainly used in labs for cultivating microorganisms. This procedure is used to detect specific pathogens. For this purpose, the sample material is applied to the medium (e.g. agar plate) and incubated in a laboratory incubator for a set period of time at a set temperature so that the microorganisms contained in the sample can multiply.

Microbial Culture Media

Prepared agar plates are one of the most popular forms of prepared culture media. In this category you will find various types of pre-poured agar plates in Petri dishes and dip slides that are used for the rapid multiplication of specific microorganisms due to the optimal growth conditions that they offer.

Urine Culture Media

A dipslide test consists of a sterile culture medium on a plastic carrier that is dipped into the liquid to be sampled. In our online shop, we offer you selected dip slides with culture media for urine bacteriology with a large agar surface that enables easy identification of cultured strains and colonies.

A product that stands out for its excellent value for money is, for example, the UrinAX CL/MC. Ideally suited for determining germ count as well as for the selective cultivation of gram-negative bacteria. The large CLED agar and MacConkey agar surface mean colonies of e.g. E. coli, one of the most common pathogens in urinary tract infections, can be easily read within 24 h. 

For the simultaneous cultivation of bacteria and fungi in urine samples, you will find the UrinAX CL/MC/MALT urine dip slide agar. This is equipped with an additional malt agar, which provides an optimal growing environment for fungi. With its three separate agar surfaces, the dipslide from the manufacturer Axonlab enables the determination of the bacterial count and the selective cultivation of gram-negative bacteria and fungi at the same time.

Grow Bacteria on Agar Plates

In addition to dip slides with culture media, we stock various agar plates in Petri dishes for cultivating different types of bacteria. For example, for the detection of gram-negative bacteria, you may purchase the MacConkey Agar, which provides a result within 24 hours after incubation at 35 °C of the plate. The selective and differential medium is used, for example, for detection, isolation and enumeration of salmonella or coliform bacteria.

To check the resistance of bacterial colonies to antibiotics, we offer Mueller-Hinton Agar Plates in our online shop. These agar plates can be used to easily create an antibiogram with up to 16 antibiotic-containing plates using the Kirby-Bauer method.

Agar Plates for the Cultivation of Fungi

For the detection of moulds, dermatophytes and yeasts, we recommend the Sabouraud Dextrose Agar Plates. The pre-poured Petri dish with culture medium inhibits bacterial growth and thus enables effective growth of fungi. The 90 mm dishes have a low pH value and a high glucose content.

The Nickerson Agar on the other hand, is intended especially for the identification of different Candida species. This 90 mm dish with culture medium is highly selective and prevents the growth of bacteria due to its high glycine concentration. The typical appearance of the fungi makes them easy to identify after incubation.

Contact Tests for Hygiene Control in Clinics & Laboratories

Contact tests are used in hospitals, laboratories and canteen kitchens to check surfaces for germs. In our online shop we offer the Schülke mikrocount® TPC for determining the total bacterial count of the most common bacteria, yeasts and fungi. In addition to surfaces, liquids can also be tested by immersion, and it is possible to apply swabs to the culture medium. The germ indicator is equipped with a practical pivot joint for easy sampling and is also suitable for sampling disinfected surfaces, as substances contained in the culture medium neutralise residues of disinfectants.

Incubators for the Incubation of Culture Media

For the incubation of culture media in Petri dishes or dipslides, you will find various laboratory incubators with adjustable temperature settings at Praxisdienst. The incubators differ mainly in size, included accessories and temperature range.

The schülke cultura Incubator is a high-quality incubator with an optimal price-performance ratio. The incubator can be set to a temperature between 25 °C and 45 °C and is therefore suitable for incubating all common bacterial cultures. The tube rack included in the delivery makes it particularly suitable for incubating microcount germ indicators. For easier assessment of the tubes from the outside, the incubator from the manufacturer Schülke has a transparent door and can also be used in continuous operation.

For incubation of media at even higher temperatures, we recommend the Mini Incubator from Axon Lab. This powerful incubator can be heated up to 60 degrees Celsius and holds 48 Petri dishes or 28 microtitre plates. A thermometer is included for temperature monitoring.

Accessories for Culture Media & Incubators

You will find further laboratory supplies in the practical overview of the Lab Equipment category. Here you will discover a host of laboratory devices as well as a wide range of tests and consumables.

Do you have questions about culture media or laboratory incubators, or do you need sterile cotton swabs for collecting samples from surfaces? Or perhaps you are looking for a specific product, e.g. a CO2 incubator, a humidity incubator, a refrigerated incubator or an incubator chamber? Our customer service will be happy to help. Feel free to get in touch via phone, email or live chat.