Brilliant Green Agar
Also known as：BGA · BG Agar · Kauffmann Brilliant Green Agar · Brilliant Green Phenol Red Agar
For the selective isolation of Salmonella species, other than Salmonella Typhi, from food, water, and other materials.
- Category
- Dehydrated Culture Media
- Dissolve per litre
- 58.09 g
- Pack sizes
- 500 g · 5 kg · 25 kg
- Certifications
- ISO 22000 · Halal
- Standard methods
- ISO 6579 (historic)·FDA BAM
Data updated：2026-11-07
Brand cross-reference：BD Difco Brilliant Green Agar · Oxoid Brilliant Green Agar (Modified) · Merck BPLS Agar（ISO 6579 (historic)、FDA BAM） Brand cross-reference
- Allergens
- Soy
Overview
Brilliant Green Agar (BGA) is a highly selective medium for Salmonella: brilliant green suppresses Gram-positive organisms and most Gram-negative competitors, and Salmonella, which ferments neither lactose nor sucrose, forms pink to red colonies that redden the surrounding medium, while sugar fermenters appear yellow-green. Used to isolate Salmonella from food and feed samples after selective enrichment.
Principle
Brilliant Green Agar derives from the medium of Kristensen and co-workers, modified by Kauffmann for the isolation of Salmonella.¹ʼ² Proteose peptone and yeast extract supply nitrogen, amino acids, vitamins, and growth factors, and sodium chloride maintains the osmotic equilibrium. Brilliant green inhibits Gram-positive bacteria and most Gram-negative bacilli other than Salmonella. Lactose and sucrose are the fermentable carbohydrates, and phenol red serves as the pH indicator. Salmonella does not ferment either sugar and forms red to pink-white colonies surrounded by a bright red zone. The few lactose- or sucrose-fermenting organisms that grow produce acid and form yellow to yellow-green colonies with a yellow zone. Because of its high selectivity, the medium is not suitable for Salmonella Typhi or Shigella.
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 58.09 g of powder in 1 L of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Avoid overheating. Cool to 45-50°C. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium | 14028 | good-luxuriant |
| Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis | 13076 | good-luxuriant |
| Escherichia coli | 25922 | inhibited-partial |
| Staphylococcus aureus | 25923 | inhibited |
Product highlights
- Food-grade raw materials, produced in an ISO 22000 certified facility
- Halal certified, suitable for the Malaysian, Indonesian, and Middle Eastern markets
- Manufactured to the standard formulation, 58.09 g per litre
- Performance verified against standard control strains before release (Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium, Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus)
- 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
Food grade versus laboratory grade
Most culture media suppliers use laboratory-grade raw materials, which are held to lower standards for heavy metal residues, microbial contamination control, and traceability. That is adequate for pure research but not for applications with stricter raw-material requirements. STBIO manufactures with food-grade raw materials throughout, in a facility certified to ISO 22000 food safety management.
- Food microbiology laboratories working to ISO 17025 or equivalent requirements
- Biotech manufacturers exporting fermentation products and needing full raw-material traceability
- Organisations with ESG or compliance audit requirements across their supply chain
- Companies sourcing both Halal and non-Halal products who need one consistent material grade
Frequently asked questions
01Can 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.
02How much powder per litre?
Use 58.09 g per litre of deionised water; preparation and sterilisation conditions are given on the specification sheet.
03Which organisms is it suitable for?
Enterobacteriaceae, Gram-negative, Pathogens, Salmonella, Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium, Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus. See the cultural response table and the specification sheet.
04What are the equivalent brand products and standard methods?
Cross-reference: BD Difco Brilliant Green Agar, Oxoid Brilliant Green Agar (Modified), Merck BPLS Agar. Standard methods: ISO 6579 (historic), FDA BAM. Formulations may differ slightly between makers; refer to the specification sheet.
05Can it be used for food-grade applications?
Yes. It is made from food-grade raw materials in an ISO 22000 certified facility and is suitable for culturing starters for fermented products that are consumed directly.
06How is this product prepared?
Suspend 58.09 g of powder in 1 L of purified water. Heat with continuous stirring and bring to the boil for 1 minute. Sterilize by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes. Avoid overheating. Cool to 45-50°C. Mix well and pour into sterile Petri plates. Test the finished medium for performance using stable, standard control cultures.
07How 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
References
- 1. Kristensen M., Lester V. and Jürgens A., 1925. On the use of trypsinized casein, bromthymol blue, bromcresol purple, phenol red and brilliant green for bacteriological nutrient media. Br. J. Exp. Pathol., 6:291-299.
- 2. Kauffmann F., 1935. Weitere Erfahrungen mit dem kombinierten Anreicherungsverfahren für Salmonellabacillen. Z. Hyg. Infektionskr., 117:26-32.