Baird Parker Agar Base
Also known as：BP / BPA · BP Agar Base · Baird-Parker Medium Base · Egg Yolk Tellurite Glycine Pyruvate Agar Base
For the selective isolation and enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci in food and other materials, following the addition of egg yolk tellurite emulsion.
- Category
- Dehydrated Culture Media
- Dissolve per litre
- 63 g
- Pack sizes
- 500 g · 5 kg · 25 kg
- Certifications
- Halal
- Standard methods
- ISO 6888-1·FDA BAM
Data updated：2026-11-07
Brand cross-reference：BD Difco Baird-Parker Agar Base · Oxoid Baird-Parker Agar Base · Merck Baird-Parker Agar（ISO 6888-1、FDA BAM） Brand cross-reference
Overview
Baird Parker Agar Base is the standard selective medium for Staphylococcus aureus in food, as specified in ISO 6888. Lithium chloride and glycine suppress competing flora and sodium pyruvate helps injured cells recover; with egg yolk tellurite added, S. aureus reduces tellurite to give black colonies surrounded by a clear lecithinase halo. Used for S. aureus counts in food, dairy and environmental samples.
Principle
Baird-Parker Agar was developed by Baird-Parker for the selective isolation and enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci from foods.¹ Pancreatic digest of casein, beef extract, and yeast extract supply nitrogen, amino acids, vitamins, and growth factors. Sodium pyruvate stimulates the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and protects sub-lethally injured cells by degrading hydrogen peroxide. Glycine, lithium chloride, and potassium tellurite inhibit most competing bacteria while permitting the growth of staphylococci. Staphylococcus aureus reduces tellurite to metallic tellurium, forming black colonies, and its lecithinase and lipase activity on egg yolk produce a characteristic clear zone, often with an inner opaque ring, around the colonies. Typical colonies are black, shiny, and convex, 1-1.5 mm in diameter, with a narrow white margin, surrounded by a clear zone 2-5 mm wide. Presumptive colonies are confirmed by the coagulase test.²
How selective media fit into the testing workflow
Pathogen testing normally runs in three stages: a pre-enrichment medium such as Buffered Peptone Water repairs injured cells and raises numbers, a selective enrichment then suppresses competing flora, and finally a selective differential agar isolates the target colonies. Selective agents are typically bile salts, dyes, or antibiotics; differential agents make target colonies develop a characteristic colour or morphology. Choose the combination specified by the method you follow.
Directions
Suspend 63 g of powder in 950 mL of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Cool to 45-50°C and aseptically add 50 mL of egg yolk tellurite emulsion. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
Cultural response
| Test organism | ATCC | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Staphylococcus aureus | 25923 | good-luxuriant |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 6538 | good-luxuriant |
| Staphylococcus epidermidis | 12228 | good |
| Escherichia coli | 25922 | inhibited |
Product highlights
- Halal certified, suitable for the Malaysian, Indonesian, and Middle Eastern markets
- Manufactured to the standard formulation, 63 g per litre
- Performance verified against standard control strains before release (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli)
- 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 12: Staphylococcus aureusBAM Chapter 12Base mediumNamed in the method as：Baird-Parker agar base (add egg yolk tellurite enrichment)
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 12: Staphylococcus aureus（BAM Chapter 12）: Base medium. 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.
02Can selective media be autoclaved?
Not always. Some media containing dyes or selective inhibitors lose their selectivity if overheated and should only be heated until fully dissolved, without autoclaving. Follow the preparation instructions for this product, and contact us if you are unsure.
03How much powder per litre?
Use 63 g per litre of deionised water; preparation and sterilisation conditions are given on the specification sheet.
04Which organisms is it suitable for?
Pathogens, Gram-positive, S. aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli. See the cultural response table and the specification sheet.
05What are the equivalent brand products and standard methods?
Cross-reference: BD Difco Baird-Parker Agar Base, Oxoid Baird-Parker Agar Base, Merck Baird-Parker Agar. Standard methods: ISO 6888-1, FDA BAM. Formulations may differ slightly between makers; refer to the specification sheet.
06How is this product prepared?
Suspend 63 g of powder in 950 mL of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Cool to 45-50°C and aseptically add 50 mL of egg yolk tellurite emulsion. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
07Is there a non-Halal version?
Yes. This is the Halal certified version; an equivalent standard version is also available.
08How 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.
Used in these applications
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.
References
- 1. Baird-Parker A. C., 1962. An improved diagnostic and selective medium for isolating coagulase positive staphylococci. J. Appl. Bacteriol., 25:12-19.
- 2. ISO 6888-1, Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal method for the enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species) — Part 1: Method using Baird-Parker agar medium, International Organization for Standardization, Geneva.