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A typical presentation of microbiological laboratory findings utilizes tables to organize data. A table designated as “Table 5” likely contains observations and interpretations related to the growth of bacteria on MacConkey agar, a selective and differential culture medium. This medium is commonly used to isolate and differentiate gram-negative bacteria, particularly members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, based on their ability to ferment lactose. The results displayed in such a table might include colony morphology (color, size, shape), lactose fermentation (indicated by a color change in the agar), and presumptive identification of bacterial species. A hypothetical example would be the observation of pink colonies, indicating lactose fermentation, suggestive of organisms like Escherichia coli, while colorless colonies suggest non-lactose fermenters such as Salmonella species.

Organized presentation of these findings facilitates clear comparison between different bacterial samples or experimental conditions. This contributes to accurate and efficient identification of bacterial isolates, which is crucial for diagnosis of infections, epidemiological studies, and research in various fields like food safety and environmental microbiology. Historically, culture-based methods, including the use of selective and differential media like MacConkey agar, have been essential for understanding bacterial diversity and pathogenicity. These methods remain invaluable tools in modern microbiology laboratories.

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