Legionella Agar BCYE + AB - Pack of 20 90 mm plates is a highly specialized culture medium, designed for the detection and enumeration of Legionella spp, in accordance with ISO 11731 standards. This product is essential for microbiology laboratories, healthcare facilities, and companies that need to monitor the presence of pathogenic bacteria in water.

Product Features

• Selective Medium: Ideal for the isolation of Legionella spp from water samples and related matrices.


• Complete Formulation: Contains yeast extract, activated charcoal, ACES buffer, alpha-ketoglutarate, cysteine, and ferric pyrophosphate.


• Selective Agents: Includes polymyxin B and cefazolin to counter contaminating bacteria, and pimaricin as an antifungal agent.

Composition and Function

Yeast extract provides essential nutrients such as amino acids, nitrogen, carbon, vitamins, and minerals, promoting optimal growth of Legionella spp. Activated charcoal plays a crucial role in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, a toxic metabolite for these bacteria, thereby improving growth conditions.

ACES buffer and potassium hydroxide are essential for maintaining the ideal pH, while the addition of alpha-ketoglutarate, cysteine, and ferric pyrophosphate meets the specific nutritional requirements of Legionella spp.

Instructions for Use

Membrane filtration is recommended to concentrate samples when the number of legionellae is unknown or does not exceed 10⁴ CFU per liter. In cases of higher concentrations, direct plating of the unconcentrated sample is recommended. For highly contaminated samples, it is necessary to dilute the sample and use direct plating before and after pretreatment with acidic or thermal solutions.

Combined Use

Legionella Agar BCYE + AB is designed to be used in synergy with Legionella Agar BCYE (ref. LF10051), which has the same formulation but without antibiotics. This combination allows greater versatility and precision in laboratory testing.

Why Choose Legionella Agar BCYE + AB?

• Reliability: Compliant with ISO standards, it ensures accurate and repeatable results.


• Ease of Use: Ready to use, it reduces preparation time and increases laboratory efficiency.


• Versatility: Suitable for a variety of applications, from research to clinical diagnostics.

Choose Legionella Agar BCYE + AB for effective and safe monitoring of water quality and to help ensure public health.