PKU Test Agar Base 500G

PKU Test Agar Base is recommended for estimation of phenylalanine in blood for detection of Phenylketonuria (PKU). Cultural repsonse of Bacillus subtilis in presence of β-2-thienylalanine is studied using this medium. Small filter paper discs saturated with patients blood are placed on PKU Test Agar with b-2-thienylalanine inoculated with Bacillus subtilis along with control discs with different levels of L-phenylalanine. After overnight incubation, zones of growth around the paper discs are compared. A response comparable to 4 mg% control disc is considered as presumptive positive.