HC Agar Base is used with Tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) for the enumeration of molds in cosmetics in a laboratory setting. HC Agar Base is not intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions in humans. Methods for isolating molds from cosmetic products require incubation for 5 to 7 days using traditional agar media. In 1986, Mead and O’Neill described a new medium, HC Agar, for enumerating molds in cosmetic products. The formulation of HC Agar decreased incubation time to 3 days at 27.5 ±0.5°C for moulds. HC Agar Base, based on the HC Agar formula of Mead and O’Neill, is supplemented with Tween 80 (Polysorbate 80) to prepare HC Agar.

• Analyte: Moulds
• Platform: dehydrated culture media
• Formula: enzymatic digest of casein 2.5g/L, enzymatic digest of animal tissue 2.5g/L, yeast extract 5.0g/L, dextrose 20.0g/L, disodium phosphate 3.5g/L, monopotassium phosphate 3.4g/L, ammonium chloride 1.4g/L, sodium carbonate 1.0g/L, magnesium sulphate 0.06g/L, chloramphenicol 0.1g/L, agar 15.0g/L
• Grams per litre: 54.50
• Litres per 500g: 9.00
• Plates per 500g: 500.00