Used in microbiology for the selective isolation and differentiation of Escherichia coli O157 from other E. coli strains and microorganisms. The medium contains chromogenic agents that allow O157 to appear as distinct colored colonies, typically mauve or purple, enabling rapid identification. Commonly applied in food safety testing, clinical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring to detect this pathogenic strain associated with severe gastrointestinal illness. Its high specificity reduces the need for confirmatory tests, speeding up analysis in public health and quality control laboratories.