GVPC Agar

Glycine Vancomycin Polymyxin Cycloheximide (GVPC) Agar is a selective culture medium used for the isolation, detection and enumeration of Legionella spp. in water samples from various sources (water intended for human consumption, wastewater, thermal and mineral waters, etc.) and food and beverage samples.

GVPC Agar, also known as Glycine-vancomycin-polymyxin-cycloheximide agar, is a Ready-to-Use media designed as per ISO Standards 11731 to detect Legionella spp.
The activated carbon in GVPC agar has an antitoxic effect due to the adsorption of fatty acids, but especially due to the breakdown of oxygen radicals and H2O2. Yeast extract provides the necessary proteins and nutrients. L-cysteine is an essential growth factor for all Legionella. The soluble iron (III) pyrophosphate [Fe4(P2O7)3] is used as a special iron source, whose quality significantly affects the growth of the Legionella. α-ketoglutarate stimulates the growth of legionella both as a carbon and nitrogen source (Krebs Cycle) as well as through mediation of the iron transport, the high amount of glycine and polymyxin B act against gram-negative, Vancomycin act against gram-positive bacteria of the accompanying bacterial flora. Cycloheximide acts fungicidal against both yeasts and molds. Thus, the selectivity of the medium is increased.