CLED Agar (Cystine Lactose Electrolyte-Deficient Agar) is a differential culture medium commonly used for the isolation and enumeration of urinary pathogens. It supports the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria while preventing the swarming of Proteus species due to its electrolyte-deficient formulation. The medium allows differentiation of lactose-fermenting organisms, which produce yellow colonies, from non-lactose fermenters that appear blue or green.
CLED Agar is widely used in clinical microbiology laboratories for routine urine culture and antimicrobial investigation, providing clear colony morphology and reliable results for diagnostic purposes.
