Neogen® Phenylethanol Agar

Phenylethanol Agar is used with blood for the selective isolation of Gram-positive cocci in a laboratory setting. Phenylethanol Agar is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions in humans.

Brewer and Lilley reported the addition of phenylethanol to a nutritive medium permitted growth of Gram-positive organisms, but markedly to completely inhibited growth of Gram-negative organisms. Phenylethanol Agar inhibits swarming of Proteus spp., and can be used to selectively isolate anaerobic bacteria from specimens with mixed flora. Phenylethanol Agar is specified for use in several reference methods.