Lysine Iron Agar

Lysine Iron Agar is used for differentiating microorganisms based on lysine decarboxylation/deamination and the production of hydrogen sulfide. Edwards and Fife developed Lysine Iron Agar to detect Salmonella arizonae. Since Salmonella arizonae ferments lactose rapidly, it was found that hydrogen sulfide production on Triple Sugar Iron agar was suppressed. By eliminating lactose and using lysine, this medium differentiates enteric bacilli based on their ability to decarboxylate or deaminate lysine.