Lysine Iron Agar is used for the differentiation of enteric organisms especially Salmonella arizonae, based on their ability to decarboxylate or deaminate lysine and to form hydrogen sulphide (H₂S).

• Detect lactose fermenting Salmonellae
• Decarboxylate or deaminate lysine
• Form hydrogen sulphide (H₂S)

Lysine Iron Agar was developed by Edwards and Fife to detect lactose fermenting Salmonellae. Salmonellae are known to decarboxylate lysine rapidly and produce large amounts of hydrogen sulphide. This medium is a sensitive medium for the detection of lactose fermenting and lactose non-fermenting Salmonella species. Many strains of this group ferment lactose very rapidly thus suppressing H2S production on Triple Sugar Iron Agar. So there is a possibility that the organisms frequently found in food poisoning outbreaks could be overlooked. Thatcher and Clark described the isolation of Salmonella species from foods from selective agar and to inoculate it on Lysine Iron Agar and Triple Sugar Iron together. Using these two media greater discrimination can be made between coliform organisms e.g. Escherichia and Shigella. Peptic digest of animal tissue and yeast extract provide essential nutrients. Dextrose is a source of fermentable carbohydrate. Ferric ammonium citrate and sodium thiosulphate are indicators of H2S formation. Cultures that produce hydrogen sulphide cause blackening of the medium due to ferrous sulphide production. Lysine decarboxylation causes an alkaline reaction (purple colour) to give the amine cadaverine and the organisms which do not decarboxylate lysine, produce acid butt (yellow colour). Organisms that deaminate lysine, form alpha - ketocarboxylic acid, which reacts with iron salt near the surface of the medium
under the influence of oxygen to form reddish-brown compound. The medium is stabbed to the base of the butt and streaked on slant.