Hektoen enteric agar

Hektoen enteric agar
	Gram negative Shigella sonnei bacteria which spent 48 hours cultured on Hektoen enteric agar (HEK).
Acronym	HEK, HE, or HEA
Inventor	Hektoen Institute
Manufacturer	Hektoen Institute

Hektoen enteric agar (HEK, HE or HEA) is a selective and differential agar^[1] primarily used to recover Salmonella and Shigella from patient specimens. HEA contains indicators of lactose fermentation and hydrogen sulfide production; as well as inhibitors to prevent the growth of Gram-positive bacteria. It is named after the Hektoen Institute in Chicago, where researchers developed the agar.

^ Goo VY, Ching GQ, Gooch JM (September 1973). "Comparison of brilliant green agar and Hektoen enteric agar media in the isolation of salmonellae from food products". Appl Microbiol. 26 (3): 288–92. doi:10.1128/am.26.3.288-292.1973. PMC 379776. PMID 4584576.

[pmid4584576-1] Goo VY, Ching GQ, Gooch JM (September 1973). "Comparison of brilliant green agar and Hektoen enteric agar media in the isolation of salmonellae from food products". Appl Microbiol. 26 (3): 288–92. doi:10.1128/am.26.3.288-292.1973. PMC 379776. PMID 4584576.

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