Illustrative image only. Actual product may vary.Nutrient Agar
Also known as：NA
- Category
- Dehydrated Culture Media
- Dissolve per litre
- 23 g
- Pack sizes
- 500 g · 5 kg · 25 kg
- Standard methods
- ISO 11133 (general purpose)
Data updated：2026-11-06
Brand cross-reference：BD Difco Nutrient Agar · Oxoid Nutrient Agar · Merck Nutrient Agar（ISO 11133 (general purpose)） Brand cross-reference
Overview
Nutrient Agar is the most basic general-purpose solid medium: peptones supply nitrogen, with no carbohydrate and no inhibitors, for cultivating, counting, subculturing and maintaining non-fastidious bacteria, and the base plate in many water and hygiene test methods. Its simple composition suits observing colony morphology or serving as a base for added blood, antibiotics and other supplements.
Choosing a general-purpose or enumeration medium
Plate Count Agar is used for total viable counts in food, water, and environmental samples. Nutrient Broth and Tryptic Soy media are the general-purpose choices for non-fastidious bacteria, with the latter richer and also used for sterility testing and environmental monitoring. Brain Heart Infusion is the richest of the three and suits fastidious organisms such as streptococci. Use the agar form for enumeration and the broth for propagation.
Product highlights
- Manufactured to the standard formulation, 23 g per litre
- Available in 500 g / 5 kg / 25 kg, from laboratory to industrial scale
- COA, specification sheet, and technical data sheet available; samples on request
- Manufactured in Taiwan with reliable supply
FDA BAM methods
This product corresponds to a medium used in the chapters of the US FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM), the reference methods for FDA regulatory testing. Follow the current online edition of each chapter.
- FDA BAM Chapter 14: Bacillus cereusBAM Chapter 14Confirmation / biochemicalNamed in the method as：Nutrient agar
BAM specifies methods and media formulations; it does not certify brands. Add supplements as the chapter requires, and verify media against reference strains under your quality system.
Frequently asked questions
01Does this medium meet FDA BAM methods?
BAM specifies methods and formulations, not brands. This product corresponds to a medium used in: FDA BAM Chapter 14: Bacillus cereus（BAM Chapter 14）: Confirmation / biochemical. It is manufactured to the standard formulation and ships with a COA per batch; add supplements as the chapter requires and follow the current online edition.
02Which medium should I use for total viable counts?
Total viable counts in food and water normally use Plate Count Agar with the pour-plate method at 30 °C. Follow the incubation conditions specified by the method you are working to.
03How much powder per litre?
Use 23 g per litre of deionised water; preparation and sterilisation conditions are given on the specification sheet.
04What are the equivalent brand products and standard methods?
Cross-reference: BD Difco Nutrient Agar, Oxoid Nutrient Agar, Merck Nutrient Agar. Standard methods: ISO 11133 (general purpose). Formulations may differ slightly between makers; refer to the specification sheet.
05Is there a Halal certified version of this product?
Yes. This is the standard version; a Halal certified version is also produced from food-grade raw materials with Halal documentation, for compliant sourcing in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Middle East.
06How do I request a bulk quotation, and can you provide a COA?
Yes. This product is available in 500 g, 5 kg, 25 kg. Tell us your application and volume when requesting a quotation; we reply within one working day and can supply the COA, specification sheet, and technical data sheet.
Academic citation
Products from this range have been cited as the culture media source in a peer-reviewed study by a National Taiwan University research team:
Chan et al. (2024). Single-strain probiotics enhance growth, anti-pathogen immunity, and resistance to Nocardia seriolae in grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) via gut microbiota modulation. Animal Microbiome, 6, 67. Springer Nature.
Media attribution: Tryptone Soy Broth, MRS medium, LB broth, beef extract, peptone, yeast extract, agar (STBIO, New Taipei, Taiwan)
Read the full paperUsed in these applications
- Total plate countRoutine QC of food, drinking water, and environmental samples
- Biofertilizer strains: nitrogen-fixing, phosphate- and potassium-solubilising, and Bacillus subtilisScreening, maintenance, and production fermentation of functional strains
- Semiconductor wastewater biotreatment: media and nitrogen sources for nitrifiers, TMAH degraders and sludge acclimationStandard media and industrial nitrogen sources for culturing bioaugmentation strains and starting or re-seeding biological treatment tanks
Further reading
- FDA BAM Culture Media Cross-Reference: Which Media Each BAM Chapter Uses and the STBIO EquivalentAerobic plate count, coliforms and E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio, Clostridium perfringens, yeasts and moulds and Cronobacter: the media named in each FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual chapter, matched to Taiwan-made dehydrated media for US laboratories qualifying a second source.
- Which Culture Media Do Taiwan FDA Food Microbiology Methods Specify? Cross-Reference for 21 Announced MethodsAerobic plate count, coliforms, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and moulds, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium perfringens and Cronobacter: the media named in each Taiwan FDA (TFDA) announced method, matched to Taiwan-made products.
- Biological Treatment of Semiconductor Wastewater: Ammonia, TMAH and the Role of Culture MediaWhy fabs and panel plants grow bacteria: ammonia is removed by nitrification and denitrification, TMAH by dedicated degraders and organics by activated sludge. How to choose media and nitrogen sources for culturing bioaugmentation strains and acclimating or re-seeding biological tanks.