Baird-Parker Agar Base is widely recommended by national and international bodies for the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus¹.

• Easy interpretation of test results as Staphylococcus aureus forms grey-black shiny colonies with surrounding clear zones.
• Greater recovery of damaged staphylococci than on other media².

Baird-Parker² developed this medium from the tellurite-glycine formulation of Zebovitz et al.³ and improved its reliability in isolating Staphylococcus aureus from foods. Baird-Parker added sodium pyruvate, to protect damaged cells and aid their recovery³

Egg yolk emulsion makes the medium yellow and opaque. Staphylococcus aureus reduces tellurite to form grey-black shiny colonies and then produces clear zones around the colonies by proteolytic action. This clear zone with typical grey-black colony is diagnostic for Staphylococcus aureus. On further incubation, most strains of Staphylococcus aureus form opaque haloes around the colonies.

Some strains of Staphylococcus saprophyticus may also produce both clear zones and opaque haloes but can be distinguished by the longer incubation required⁴.

Colonies typical of Staphylococcus aureus, but without an egg yolk reaction, should also be tested for coagulase production⁵. Egg yolk reaction negative Staphylococcus aureus may occur in some food, especially cheese.

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