Susceptibility testing · Disk diffusion
Mueller Hinton Agar – standard agar for disk diffusion
Mueller Hinton Agar is the standard medium for antimicrobial susceptibility testing by the disk diffusion method. It gives reproducible inhibition zones because its composition is controlled for substances that interfere with antibiotics.
- Standard agar for disk diffusion
- Reproducible inhibition zones
- With 5 % blood for fastidious bacteria
How Mueller Hinton Agar works
Beef infusion, casein hydrolysate and starch support the growth of most pathogens. Low levels of thymidine and controlled calcium and magnesium allow correct results for sulphonamides, trimethoprim and aminoglycosides.
Technical data
| Preparation | 38 g/L; boil to dissolve, autoclave 121 °C 15 min |
| Final pH | 7.4 ± 0.2 |
| Storage | Dry, dark place; keep the container tightly closed |
| Shelf life | 3 years unopened |
Applications and practical notes
Mueller Hinton media are the standard media for antimicrobial susceptibility testing by disk diffusion and broth dilution, as specified for example in the EUCAST disk diffusion method and the CLSI standards. Typical applications include:
- Disk diffusion susceptibility testing
- Broth microdilution and MIC determination
- Quality control with reference strains
- Veterinary, food and research laboratories
Working with Mueller Hinton Agar: Pour plates to a depth of 4 ± 0.5 mm and dry them before use, because agar depth affects the zone size.
Good practice with dehydrated media: keep the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry place, weigh the powder quickly to avoid moisture uptake, and use fresh distilled or deionised water. Check the pH of each new batch after preparation and before use, and label prepared media with the date. Performance of each lot can be verified with reference strains according to ISO 11133, the standard for the preparation, production, storage and performance testing of culture media.
About general-purpose media: general-purpose media are not tied to one reference method. They are used in every laboratory for cultivation, revival of reference strains, purity checks and as bases for enriched and test media. Their performance is verified with reference strains according to ISO 11133, and media for susceptibility testing follow the requirements of EUCAST and CLSI. COLO.Science offers general media, enriched bases, supplements and QC strains from one source.
Complete sets from one supplier: COLO.Science supplies culture media, supplements, rapid tests, identification kits and QC strains as complete sets for the method you follow. Send us your sample types and standards, and we will prepare an offer with the matching products and documentation.
Mueller Hinton Agar is supplied by COLO.Science in the pack sizes listed under Ordering information. For larger quantities, regular deliveries or method-specific sets that include Mueller Hinton Agar, please send us a request. With every delivery of Mueller Hinton Agar you receive the lot number and expiry date, and on request we send the available documentation for Mueller Hinton Agar.
Where Mueller Hinton Agar fits in general microbiology
- Sample preparation – Peptone Water, Phosphate Buffer and other diluents
- Cultivation and revival – Nutrient, BHI and Columbia media
- Fastidious organisms – blood, chocolate and GC media with supplements
- Testing and identification – Mueller Hinton for susceptibility, CLED and chromogenic agar for urine, biochemical tests
See all general-purpose media in the Microbiology Catalogue →
Ordering information
| Product | COLO code | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Mueller Hinton Agar | PRO7489 | 500 g |
Product notice: preparation, storage conditions and shelf life are given on the label. Technical data on this page are for orientation; the label and the lot documentation apply. B2B prices are quoted net, excluding VAT.
Sales and technical support
COLO LabExperts
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Quotations and technical support for culture media and microbiology products across our international sales territory. B2B prices are net, excluding VAT.
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Need the complete set for your method?
Send the sample type, target organism and the standard you follow. COLO.Science will put together the media, supplements, QC strains and confirmation tests for the whole procedure.
