--- title: Redipor Growth Media Type Nutrient Agar description: Nutrient agar - a general-purpose non-selective nutritious medium used for the cultivation of non-fastidious microorganisms image: https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Nutrient%20Agar%201.jpg --- [![analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=7907&height=1706&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png "analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB")](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/) [![analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=7907&height=1706&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png "analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB")](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/) ![50th Logo Cherwell logo final](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/50th%20Logo%20Cherwell%20logo%20final.svg) Search # Growth Media Type Nutrient Agar ### A highly nutritious, non-selective agar containing all the essential nutrients which support the growth of various types of bacteria and fungi - it can be used for routine cultivation of microorganisms that do not have specific nutritional growth requirements.   [![REQUEST CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2885977/0019290e-74e4-49b1-b332-58e602527c7e.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2885977/0019290e-74e4-49b1-b332-58e602527c7e) This product is widely known as nutrient agar. ### Primary Use Nutrient agar is a general-purpose medium used for the cultivation of non-fastidious microorganisms.     ### **Technical characteristics** The typical medium composition: | **Typical formulation:** | **g/ltr** | | --- | --- | | 'Lab-Lemco' powder | 1 | | Yeast extract | 2 | | Peptone | 5 | | Sodium chloride | 5 | | Agar | 15 | *Fresh pH 7.4 ±0.2* ### Applications Nutrient Agar is a general purpose, non-selective nutritious media which allows maximum recovery of delicate microorganisms without affecting their haemolytic reactions. Media can be used to subculture microorganisms for maintenance purposes or to check the purity of subcultures from isolation plates prior to biochemical or serological tests. Nutrient Agar contains a concentration of 1.5% agar to permit the addition of up to 10% blood or other biological fluid (such as serum or egg yolk), as required for cultivation of fastidious microorganisms.  **Related reading:** - [Monitoring the clean room](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/monitoring-the-clean-room) - [Environmental monitoring: how to maintain a cleanroom](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/environmental-monitoring-how-to-maintain-a-cleanroom) - [Keep it clean: considerations for pharmaceutical cleanrooms](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/2015/07/31/keep-it-clean-considerations-for-pharmaceutical-cleanrooms) ### Appearance The prepared media is pale straw to straw in colour with a slightly opaque appearance. ### Organisms & morphology **Related reading:** - [How are bacterial isolates identified and named?](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/how-are-bacterial-isolates-identified-and-named) - [Environmental isolate challenges: identify, store & verify](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/environmental-isolates-challenges-identification-storage-verification) - [How to store prepared media plates](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/how-to-store-prepared-media-plates)   | **Microorganism** | Observational appearance | | --- | --- | | *Staphylococcus aureus* | 1-2 mm White / Straw colonies | | *Pseudomonas aeruginosa* | 1-3 mm Straw colonies | | *Yersinia enterocolitica* | 1-3 mm Straw colonies | | *Escherichia coli* | 1-3 mm Straw colonies | | *Salmonella enteritidis* | 1-3 mm Straw colonies |   [Download PDF version](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Growth%20Media%20Types%20-%20Nutrient%20agar%20-%2025-05-24.pdf) ## **Typical incubation parameters ** As nutrient agar is a general-purpose medium, it can be incubated at differing temperatures depending on the target microorganism. Typically, incubation range are within 37 ± 2 °C for 24 ± 2 hours.   ## Related reading: - [Back to Media Types Overview ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/growth-media-types) - [Tryptone Soya Agar plus Neutralisers](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/growth-media-type-tryptone-soya-agar-tsa-plus-neutralisers) - [Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB)](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/growth-media-type-tryptic-soy-broth-tsb) - [Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA)](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/growth-media-type-sabouraud-dextrose-agar-sda) - [Fluid Thioglycollate Medium (FTM)](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/growth-media-type-fluid-thioglycollate-medium-ftm) - [R2A agar](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/growth-media-type-r2a-agar)   **Download PDF version** ### More information on our products   [ #### **Gamma Irradiated Prepared Media ** Gamma irradiated prepared media plates for environmental monitoring in pharmaceutical manufacture, cleanrooms and more ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/irradiated-media) [ #### **Poured Culture Media Plates ** Range of prepared culture media plates for environmental monitoring, non-critical hygiene, general purpose and selective laboratory media ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/poured-culture-media-plates) [ #### **Redipor® Barrier Pack ** Cherwell’s Redipor® Barrier pack prevents the penetration of Vaporised Hydrogen Peroxide gassing (VHP) to the plates. ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Redipor%20Barrier%20Pack%20VHP%20Resistant%20Packaging%20Illustration.pdf)   ### Does Plate Choice Change Sampling Accuracy? Comparative Analysis of Petri Dish Variation in Flow Rate for Air Sampling. This extended report aims to further investigate the variations in flow rate observed in petri dishes used for air sampling, focusing on the potential factors contributing to these fluctuations. [![Download Guide](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2885977/bac09af5-4efe-47d7-aa89-95e28635d71d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2885977/bac09af5-4efe-47d7-aa89-95e28635d71d)   #### What's Next #### Recent News [![Specialist products for boosting microbial EM protocol reliability spotlighted by AnalytiChem UK at Pharmig 2025](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Redipor%20TwistLock%20Contact%20Plates%20with%20GS1%20DataMatrix%20Codes.png) **Specialist products for boosting microbial EM protocol reliability spotlighted by AnalytiChem UK at Pharmig 2025** 10 November 2025 ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/analytichem-uk-highlight-specialist-em-products-pharmig-2025-annual-conference) [![New AnalytiChem UK appointment strengthens customer focus and growth strategy](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/Tom%20Pickford%20AnalytiChem%20UK%20Business%20Development%20Manager%20Midlands.jpg) **New AnalytiChem UK appointment strengthens customer focus and growth strategy** 20 October 2025 ](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/cherwell-labs-post/new-analytichem-uk-appointment-strengthens-customer-focus-and-growth-strategy) #### Subscribe Receive the latest articles as they are published. #### Contact Us Registered Office 7 & 8 Launton Business Centre, Murdock Road, Bicester, OX26 4XB **Phone** Tel: +44 (0) 1869 355 500 Fax: +44 (0) 1869 355 545 **Email** [sales.uk@analytichem.com](mailto:sales.uk@analytichem.com)[mailto:sales@cherwell-labs.co.uk](mailto:sales@cherwell-labs.co.uk) ![analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png?width=2000&name=analytichem_Logo+claim_RGB.png) ![bsi-iso-9001-certified-logo-1](https://www.cherwell-labs.co.uk/hubfs/bsi-iso-9001-certified-logo-1.png) AnalytiChem UK ©2025 (Formerly Cherwell) Reg. in England No: 01159518 VAT Reg. 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