Why blood agar inoculated with throat specimen?

Blood agar is inoculated with throat specimens to isolate and identify pathogenic bacteria that may be responsible for throat infections, such as streptococci. The enriched medium supports the growth of fastidious organisms while allowing the observation of hemolytic activity, which aids in differentiating species based on their ability to lyse red blood cells. This information is crucial for diagnosing conditions like strep throat and guiding appropriate treatment.