Plate count agar

Plate count agar (PCA) is a microbiological growth medium commonly used to assess or to monitor "total" or viable bacterial growth of a sample. PCA is not a selective medium.

The composition of plate count agar may vary, but typically it contains (w/v):^[1]

0.5% peptone

0.25% yeast extract

0.1% glucose

1.5% agar

pH adjusted to neutral at 25 C.

Plate count broth does not contain agar.

References