Milieu sélectif selon Levine permettant l'isolement différenciel des entérobactéries basé sur leur capacité à fermenter le lactose.

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BBL™ Eosin Methylene Blue Agar, Levine
Dehydrated Appearance: Fine, homogeneous, may contain up to a large amount of minute to small dark red purple particles.
Solution: 3.74% solution, soluble in purified water upon boiling. Solution is medium to dark, green orange brown, hazy.
Prepared Appearance: Medium to dark, green orange brown, hazy.
Reaction of 3.74%
Solution at 25°C: pH 7.1 ± 0.2

Formulae
BBL™ Eosin Methylene Blue Agar, Levine
Approximate Formula* Per Liter
Pancreatic Digest of Gelatin : 10.0 g
Lactose : 10.0 g
Dipotassium Phosphate : 2.0 g
Eosin Y: 0.4 g
Methylene Blue : 65.0 mg
Agar : 15.0 g

Intended Use
Eosin Methylene Blue Agar, Levine is a slightly selective and
differential plating medium for the isolation of gram-negative
enteric bacteria. EMB Agar, Levine, without Lactose is
provided for convenience in genetic studies of enteric bacilli.

Summary and Explanation
Shortly following the publication by Holt-Harris and Teague of a paper describing a new culture medium for the differentiation of enteric microorganisms through the use of eosin and methylene blue dyes, Levine described a modification of their formulation which he claimed gave better differentiation between what are now referred to as Escherichia and Enterobacter species.
The two formulations differ in that Levine EMB Agar does not contain sucrose. Both of these formulations were developed to improve upon the differentiating properties of Endo Agar, which was developed previously.
Levine EMB Agar has become the predominant enteric plating medium that utilizes dyes as selective agents. It is recommended for use in the microbiological examination of dairy products and foods by the American Public Health Association. EMB Agar, Levine, without Lactose can be supplemented with a carbohydrate as the sole carbon source for the study of hybrid enteric bacilli.