Campylobacter jejuni/C. coli appear as dark salmon flat to convex colonies, 1.0-2.0 mm in diameter with and without a clear ring after 48 h at 41-42°C under microaerophilic conditions. C. lari appears as beige to off-white colonies 1.0-2.0 mm in diameter. Ninety five percent of the Gram (+)s, Gram (-)s and yeasts did not grow, 5% grew as pinpoint white colonies.

1. Our medium is the first chromogenic plating medium to specifically isolate C. jejuni and C. coli.

2. Our medium, via the chromogenic substrate, detects the C-2 esterase which is found in the thermophilic

C. jejuni and C. coli but not C. lari.

3. Blood and/or charcoal are not required to isolate C. jejuni and C. coli.

4. Highly selective/differential detection system with a selectivity and sensitivity for C. jejuni and C. coli of 98% and 100%, respectively, with no false negatives (>90 C. jejuni and C. coli strains tested).

5. Water insoluble chromogenic lattice prevents the colony color from diffusing into the agar making detection and enumeration much easier.

6. Plates may be examined after 24 hours for C. jejuni and C. coli.

7. Selectivity of medium and incubation conditions inhibits the growth of most enterics and other closely related Gram negative bacteria.

8. In competitors’ media, all bacterial colonies have the same colony color with no differentiating capabilities other than size and shape, resulting in more costly tests as well as labor costs.

9. The shelf life of prepared plates remains stable for at least 60 days, stored in the dark at 2-8°C. One bottle of plating medium powder and one box of supplements will make approximately 255 plates.

10. Tested by the FDA, USDA and state departments of health and agriculture with excellent results.