Oxoid has introduced a new, highly selective culture medium to the Oxoid range of products for the detection of Salmonella species. Oxoid Xylose Lactose Tergitol™ 4 (XLT-4) Agar is ideal for the isolation and identification of salmonellae from food and environmental samples.

The detection of Salmonella species is often complicated by the presence of background flora and other Enterobacteriaceae on an agar plate. The presence of the selective agent, Tergitol™ 4, in XLT-4 Agar inhibits many organisms that can be problematic on other plating media. In addition, biochemical and pH changes within the medium allow Salmonella spp. (black colonies) to be differentiated from organisms, such as E. coli (yellow colonies) and Shigella spp. (red colonies).

The enhanced selectivity of XLT-4 Agar reduces the need for further identification procedures, saving time and money, and results in fewer false presumptive positive colonies when compared to other Salmonella plating media.

For further information about Oxoid XLT-4 Agar and other products for the growth and identification of Salmonella species contact Val Stroud at Oxoid, contact details are at top of this page.