NEOGEN Milk Plate Count Agar

Milk Plate Count Agar is used for the isolation and enumeration of microorganisms in milk and dairy products in a laboratory setting. Milk Plate Count Agar is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions in humans. Liquid milk and other dairy products are highly perishable and can spoil in a few days. Contamination of raw milk can arise from several sources including, soiled udders, inadequately cleaned milking equipment, and poor handling and processing of samples. Prolonged or improper holding of dairy products may permit microbial contamination to increase. Bovine mastitis may cause contamination with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, E. coli and other microorganisms. Poor cleaning of the milking equipment may cause contamination with streptococci, coliforms, or heat resistant Bacillus spp. Spoilage of pasteurized or raw milk by proteolytic psychrotrophic bacteria can occur on prolonged storage below 7°C. Milk Plate Count Agar is equivalent to the medium recommended by the British Standard Institution, International Dairy Federation, and International Organization for Standardization for the enumeration of microorganisms in liquid milk, ice cream, dried milk, and whey.