What does BAP stand for in media terminology?

BAP stands for Blood Agar Plate. This type of media is enriched with sheep or horse blood and is commonly used in microbiology labs to isolate and cultivate fastidious organisms, which are bacteria that have complex nutritional requirements. Blood Agar Plates allow for the identification of bacteria based on their hemolytic properties—specifically, whether they can lyse red blood cells and the extent to which they do so.

The use of blood in the agar enriches the media with nutrients, making it an excellent choice for culturing a wide range of organisms, including those that may not grow on standard nutrient agar. This media is especially useful in clinical settings for identifying pathogenic bacteria that may cause infections in patients.