Used for the selective and differential isolation of Shigella and Salmonella species from clinical and food samples. The agar allows for easy differentiation of target pathogens based on colony color. Shigella colonies typically appear in shades of mauve or purple, while other enteric bacteria like E. coli show distinct colors such as blue or colorless, enabling rapid identification. Commonly used in food safety testing and clinical diagnostics to detect bacterial causes of gastroenteritis. Supports high specificity with minimal need for subculturing, making it efficient for high-throughput laboratories.