LME Carbon Agar (Activated Charcoal) — 6-Pack

LME Carbon Agar — High-Contrast Culture Isolation

Activated charcoal meets light malt extract in this striking jet-black agar medium. The deep black background creates maximum contrast against white mycelium, making it dramatically easier to identify growth patterns, spot contamination, and select the strongest sectors for transfer. If you are serious about strain isolation and clean culture work, LME Carbon Agar is an essential tool in your lineup.

What's Included

6 pre-poured sterile agar cups (4 oz clear plastic cups with lids), ready for immediate use. Each cup contains a firm, deep-black LME agar surface infused with food-grade activated charcoal.

Why LME Carbon Agar?

• Maximum visual contrast — white mycelium stands out brilliantly against the black surface, making growth patterns and contamination unmistakable.
• Easier strain isolation — clearly see sector boundaries, rhizomorphic growth, and tomentose growth for more confident transfer decisions.
• Activated charcoal benefits — charcoal can adsorb metabolic waste products, potentially supporting cleaner, healthier cultures.
• Same reliable LME nutrition — all the proven growth performance of standard LME agar, with enhanced visibility.

How to Use

1. Work inside a still air box (SAB) or in front of a laminar flow hood.
2. Wipe the cup lid and your tools with 70% isopropyl alcohol.
3. Inoculate the agar surface with spores, a tissue sample, or a culture transfer using a sterile scalpel or inoculation loop.
4. Replace the lid and seal the edge with parafilm.
5. Incubate at 21–24°C (70–75°F) and monitor for growth over 5–14 days.

Why Buy Pre-Made Agar?

• No pressure cooker needed — skip the hours of sterilization and guesswork.
• Consistent quality every time — precise nutrient ratios, proper gel firmness, zero batch variation.
• Sterile and ready to use — produced in our CFIA-licensed facility in Brantford, Ontario.
• No failed pours — no cracked cups, no condensation disasters, no wasted ingredients.
• Save time for what matters — spend your energy on transfers, isolations, and growing mushrooms.

Storage

Store sealed cups in the refrigerator (2–8°C / 36–46°F). Shelf life is 6 months to 1 year when kept sealed and refrigerated. Keep away from direct sunlight. Do not freeze. Inspect for contamination before use — discard any cup that shows unexpected mould or discolouration before opening.

Price Breakdown

• 6-Pack: $30.00 — just $5.00 per plate.
• Case of 60: $120.00 — only $2.00 per plate (60% savings).

Whether you need a handful for a single project or a full case for ongoing work, we have you covered.

Explore Our Full Agar Lineup

Pair with standard LME Agar for initial isolations, then transfer your best sectors to Carbon Agar for detailed selection. Also available: PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) for starch-loving species and Sawdust Preservation Agar for long-term strain banking.