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Here we have a sample of plaques formed by viruses within a blood agar medium. |  |
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The red region is the solidified blood agar, while the white spots are the plaques. The viruses spread through the agar, destroying the blood cells within the agar and generating these characteristic spots. The color of the plaques and the background against which they are formed will vary depending on the cell types and the culture medium (e.g. the type of agar used). | |
| These plaques were formed as part of a plaque assay. This technique is discussed more extensively here. The resultant plaques are often counted manually; however, modern technology also allows for automated enumeration of viral plaque assays. | |
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