What does XLD mean in UNCLASSIFIED

XLD stands for Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate. It is an antibiotics-free growth medium used in the culture of fastidious bacteria and anaerobes.

XLD agar contains xylose, lysine, deoxycholate, potassium tellurite, sodium thiosulfate, and ferric citrate. This ingredients make the medium selective for Gram-negative enteric bacilli such as Salmonella and Shigella species.

The primary use of XLD is to differentiate enteric pathogenic organisms from each other, as well as distinguish non-enteric Gram-positive microorganisms from one another. Additionally, it can be used to identify certain bacterial genera including Salmonella and Shigella species that are associated with foodborne illnesses.

Both! XLD agar is a selective media because it only allows certain bacteria to grow - specifically those involving enteric pathogens - while providing inhibitory effects on other organisms (such as molds and yeasts). It's also a differential media because it provides indicators that allow us to detect the presence of specific bacteria based on their biochemical properties such as fermentation of sugars or production of certain enzymes.

No; there is no need for a heat source with using this media since its components are already present in the plates when they are inoculated with samples.