Used in microbiology for the detection of deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity in bacteria. The agar allows for the differentiation of organisms based on their ability to hydrolyze DNA. When DNA is broken down by DNase-producing bacteria, a clear zone forms around the bacterial growth on the agar, especially after flooding with hydrochloric acid, which precipitates undigested DNA. This makes the clear zones more visible. Commonly used in clinical labs to identify pathogenic strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, which typically produces DNase, helping distinguish it from other staphylococci. Also useful in environmental and research labs for screening microbial isolates with nuclease activity.