Neogen® HC Agar Base

HC Agar Base is used with Tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) for the enumeration of molds in cosmetics in a laboratory setting. HC Agar Base is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions in humans.

Methods for isolating molds from cosmetic products require incubation for 5 - 7 days using traditional agar media. In 1986, Mead and O’Neill described a new medium, HC Agar, for enumerating molds in cosmetic products. The formulation of HC Agar decreased incubation time to 3 days at 27.5 ± 0.5°C for molds. HC Agar Base, based on the HC Agar formula of Mead and O’Neill, is supplemented with Tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) to prepare HC Agar.