Tests for Gram-Negative (Enterobact Flashcards
Principle of Gram Sure
L-alanine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin + aminopeptidase (from Gram neg) → blue fluorescence
Indicator of Gram Sure
Longwave UV light
Incubation for Gram Sure
22-25°C for 5-10 minutes
Positive QC for Gram Sure
Blue fluorescence (E. coli)
Negative QC for Gram Sure
No fluorescence (S. aureus)
Differentiates Enterobacterales from other GN bacilli
Oxidase test (Kovac’s method)
Principle of Oxidase Test (Kovac’s Method)
Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride + cytochrome oxidase → indophenol
Incubation for Oxidase Test (Kovac’s Method)
22-25°C, within 10 seconds
Positive QC for Oxidase Test
Dark purple/Deep blue (P. aeruginosa)
Negative QC for Oxidase Test
No color change (E. coli)
Aid in ID of Gram-negative along with Gram stain
Gram Sure
Differentiates Enterobacterales from other GN bacilli
Oxidase test (Kovac’s method)
Positive for all Enterobacteriales/Enterobacteriaceae
Nitrate Reduction
Principle of nitrate reduction
Nitrate + bacterial nitrate reductase → Nitrite
Medium for nitrate and nitrite reduction
Peptone broth
Indicator/Reagent for Solution A in nitrate/nitrite reduction
Sulfanilic acid
Indicator/Reagent for Solution B in nitrate/nitrite reduction
α-naphthylamine
Durham tube purpose in nitrate/nitrite
N2 gas (detection is positive)
Incubation of nitrate and nitrite reduction
35-37°C, 48 hours
Positive QC for nitrate reduction
RED after addition of indicator (E. coli)
Negative QC for nitrate reduction
Colorless or change of color after zinc dust (Acinetobacter baumanii)
Positive QC for nitrite reduction
Colorless, gas production (P. mirabilis)
Negative QC for nitrite reduction
Red, no gas (Acinetobacter baumanii)
Tests bacteria for oxidative or fermentative ability
Oxidation and Fermentation (CDC Method)
Principle for oxidation and fermentation (CDC Method)
6 Carbohydrates: Glucose, Xylose, Mannitol, Maltose, Lactose, Sucrose → Acids
Medium for oxidation and fermentation (CDC Method)
Agar deep + 1 carbohydrate, Anaerobic: Sterile melted petrolatum or paraffin oil
Indicator/Reagent for oxidation and fermentation (CDC Method)
Phenol red
Incubation of OF (CDC Method)
35-37°C, Up to 7 days
QC positive for OF method (CDC Method)
Yellow (acids); Oxidizer: P. aeruginosa; Fermenter: E. coli
For decarboxylase-producing Enterobacteria
Moeller’s decarboxylase test
Principle of Moeller’s test
Lysine → Cadaverine; Ornithine → Putrescine; Arginine → Citrulline
Medium for Moeller’s decarboxylase test
Moeller’s decarboxylase medium, add 4mm Mineral oil
Indicator of Moeller’s decarboxylase test
Bromocresol purple and Cresol red
Incubation period for Moeller’s decarboxylase test
35-37°C, Examine at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours
Positive QC for Moeller’s Decarboxylase test Lysine (purple)
K. pneumoniae
Positive QC for Moeller’s Decarboxylase test Ornithine (purple)
K. aerogenes
Positive QC for Moeller’s Decarboxylase test Arginine (purple)
P. aeruginosa
Negative QC for Moeller’s Decarboxylase test Arginine
E. coli
Negative QC for Moeller’s Decarboxylase test Ornithine
P. vulgaris
Negative QC for Moeller’s Decarboxylase test Lysine
C. freundii
LIA is a test for
Enterobacterales/Enterobacteriaceae
Principle of LIA aerobic and anaerobic
Aerobic Slant: Lysine; Anaerobic Butt: Glucose
Purple slant LIA (K)
Lysine decarboxylase
Red slant (R) LIA
Lysine deamination
Glucose fermentation (A) color
Yellow butt (A)
Black precipitate in LIA indicates
H2S production
Lysine Iron Agar reactions: Positive Lysine decarboxylation (LDC+)
K/K (ALK/ALK)
Lysine Iron Agar reactions: Negative Lysine decarboxylation (LDC-)
K/A (ALK/ACD)
Lysine Iron Agar reactions: Positive Lysine deamination (LDA+)
R/A or R/Y
Indicator for LIA
Bromocresol Purple; Ferric ammonium citrate (H2S)
Incubation for LIA
35-37°C, 18-24 hours
Positive QC for LIA Lysine decarboxylation (K/K)
Klebsiella, E. coli, Edwardsiella, Salmonella, Serratia
Positive QC for LIA Lysine deamination and glucose fermentation (R/A or R/Y)
PMP group
Quality control K/A LIA
E. coli
Quality control R/A LIA
Proteus mirabilis
LIA negative for Lysine decarboxylation, positive for glucose fermentation only (K/A)
Citrobacter, Shigella
Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) test for Enterobacterales contents (LSG)
Aerobic Slant: Lactose (10%), Sucrose (10%); Anaerobic Butt: Glucose (1%)
Medium: TSI Agar reactions
K: Alkaline (Red); A: Acid (Yellow); H2S: Black ppt.; g: Small gas (Bubble); G: Large gas (Cracks)
Reaction interpretations for TSI Ⓐ
E. coli
Reaction interpretations for TSI K/A, g/G, H2S+
- Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium
Reaction interpretations for TSI K/A, H2S+
P. mirabilis
Reaction interpretations for TSI K/A
Shigella flexneri
Reaction interpretations for TSI K/K
P. aeruginosa
Indicators for TSI
Phenol Red (acid production), Ferric ammonium citrate (H2S)
Incubation for TSI
35-37°C, 18-24 hours
Gelatin hydrolysis test purpose
Positive for Moraxella lacunata, Serratia orodifera, Proteus spp., Pseudomonas
Principle of gelatin hydrolysis
Gelatin + gelatinase → liquefaction (refrigerated)
QC for gelatin hydrolysis Partial or total liquefaction at 4°C
Bacillus subtilis
QC for gelatin hydrolysis Complete solidification at 4°C
E. coli
Principle of fermentation media for differentiating enteric bacteria from Coryneforms
Glucose → Pyruvate
Medium for fermentation of enteric bacteria from Coryneforms
Peptone medium + 1 drop BHI culture
Indicator for fermentation media for enteric bacteria from Coryneforms
Andrade’s indicator
Gas detection method in fermentation media for enteric bacteria from Coryneforms
Durham tube
Incubation conditions for fermentation media of enteric bacteria from Coryneforms
35-37°C, Up to 7 days
QC reactions for fermentation media for enteric bacteria from Coryneforms (positive)
Pink with gas: E. coli; Pink without gas: S. flexneri
QC reactions for fermentation media for enteric bacteria from Coryneforms (negative)
Clear or straw, no gas: Coryneforms
Fermentation media to differentiate Enterococci from Streptococci medium
Broth + 2 drops of BHI culture
Indicator of fermentation media to differentiate Enterococci from Streptococci
Bromocresol purple
Incubation period for fermentation media to differentiate Enterococci from Streptococci
35-37°C, 4 days
Positive QC for fermentation media to differentiate Enterococci from Streptococci
Yellow with gas: E. coli
Negative QC for fermentation media to differentiate Enterococci from Streptococci
Pink, no gas: Moraxella osloensis
ONPG test purpose
Distinguishes late lactose fermenter from non-lactose fermenters
ONPG test principle
ONPG + β-galactosidase → o-nitrophenol (yellow)
Incubation for ONPG test
37°C, 4 hours
QC for ONPG test Positive
Yellow: Shigella sonnei
Negative QC for ONPG test
Colorless: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Spot indole test purpose
Rapid ID of indole positive organisms (e.g., E. coli)
Spot indole test principle
1% p-dimethylamino-cinnamaldehyde + tryptophanase → blue
Incubation for spot indole test
22-25°C, within 30 seconds
QC for spot indole test positive
Blue within 20 seconds: E. coli
QC for spot indole test negative
Slight pink/No color change: K. pneumoniae
Indole positive reaction bacteria in IMViC (PEKPEC)
PMP group E. coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Plesiomonas, Edwardsiella, Citrobacter koseri
Positive for Methyl red in IMViC (CEPSS)
Citrobacter, E. coli, PMP, Salmonella, Shigella
IMViC bacteria positive for Voges-Proskauer (Barritt’s method)(KESH)
Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Hafnia
Acetate Utilization purpose
Differentiate E. coli from Shigella
Urease (Christensen’s method) purpose
Presumptive ID of Proteus spp. and other enterobacteria
Motility test purpose
Detects motile organisms
MUG test purpose
Detection of EHEC/E. coli O157:H7 (no fluorescence)
PAD test purpose
Detects PMP/PPM group (Positive)
String test purpose
Rapid detection of Vibrio spp.
Principle for indole
Tryptophan + tryptophanase → indole (detected by indicators)
Medium for Indole
SIM (20-25°C), Tryptophan broth (35°C)
Indicator for indole (positive for Enterobacterales/Enterobacteriaceae)
Kovac’s reagent
Composition of Kovac’s reagent
Dimethylamine-benzaldehyde & HCl
Composition of Ehrlich’s reagent
Dimethylamine-benzaldehyde & HCl, Absolute ethanol, Xylene
Incubation of indole
35-37°C, 48 hours
Positive QC for Indole Kovac’s reagent
Pink/Wine color ring after addition of Kovac’s reagent (E. coli)
Positive QC for Indole Ehrlich’s reagent
H. influenzae and Porphyromonas asaccharolytica
Negative QC for Indole Kovac’s reagent
K. pneumoniae
Negative QC for Indole Ehrlich’s reagent
H. parainfluenzae and Bacteroides fragilis
Principle for Methyl Red
Carbohydrate → mixed acids; Acids make pH < 4.4 (positive)
Medium for Methyl Red and Voges-Proskauer
MRVP medium or Clark & Lubs medium
Incubation for Methyl Red
35-37°C, 48 hours
Positive QC for Methyl Red
E. coli
Negative QC for Methyl Red
Yellow - K. aerogenes
Voges-Proskauer (Barritt’s method) principle
Carbohydrate → 2,3-Butanediol or acetoin (end product)
Voges-Proskauer (Barritt’s method) indicator
Solution A: ɑ-naphthol; Solution B: KOH
Positive QC for Voges-Proskauer
Red (K. aerogenes)
Negative QC for Voges-Proskauer
Yellow (E. coli)
Principle for Citrate Utilization Test
Citrate → Ammonium PO4 and Ammonium hydroxide
Medium for Citrate Utilization Test
Simmons citrate agar slant
Indicator for Citrate Utilization Test
Bromothymol blue
Incubation for Citrate Utilization Test
35-37°C, Up to 7 days
Positive QC for Citrate Utilization Test
Blue (K. aerogenes)
Negative QC for Citrate Utilization Test
Small/No growth; Green (E. coli)
Acetate (Malonate, Acetamide) Utilization principle
Ability to use Sodium acetate as sole source of carbon
Medium for Acetate Utilization
Acetate slant
Indicator for Acetate Utilization
Bromothymol blue
Incubation for Acetate Utilization
35-37°C, Up to 7 days
Positive QC for Acetate Utilization Test
Growth; Blue (E. coli)
Negative QC for Acetate Utilization Test
Small/No growth; Green (S. sonnei)
Urease (Christensen’s method) principle
Urea + urease → Ammonium carbonate (alkaline, pH >8.1)
Medium for Urease (Christensen’s method)
Urease agar slant + 2 drops BHI culture
Indicator for Urease (Christensen’s method)
Phenol Red
Incubation for Urease (Christensen’s method)
35-37°C, Up to 7 days
Positive QC for Urease (Christensen’s method)
Magenta/Red (P. vulgaris)
Other positive organisms for Urease (Christensen’s method)
Klebsiella, PMP group, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Helicobacter, Ureaplasma, Cryptococcus
Negative QC for Urease (Christensen’s method)
Light Orange/Yellow (E. coli)
Motility test principle
Motile bacteria produce a diffuse zone of growth
Motility test agar
Semisolid Gelatin butt
Incubation for Motility test
35-37°C, Up to 7 days
Positive QC for Motility test
Spreading (P. vulgaris)
Negative QC for Motility test
Colonies remain on site of stab (K. pneumoniae)
MUG test principle
4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-glucuronide + β-d-glucuronidase → 4-methylumbelliferyl
Medium for MUG test
MUG disk, add drop of water and incubate at 35°C for 2 hours
Indicator for MUG test
366 nm Ultraviolet light
Incubation for MUG test
35-37°C, 2 hours, Closed container
Positive QC for MUG test
Electric Blue fluorescence (All E. coli except O157:H7)
Negative QC for MUG test
No fluorescence (K. pneumoniae, E. coli O157:H7)
Principle for PAD test
Phenylalanine + PAD → ammonia and phenylpyruvic acid
Medium for PAD test
PAD agar/slant
Indicator for PAD test
10% FeCl3
Incubation for PAD test
35-37°C, 18-24 hours
Positive QC for PAD test
GREEN (P. mirabilis)
Negative QC for PAD test
Yellow (E. coli)
String test principle
0.5% Sodium deoxycholate lyses DNA of VIBRIO only, forming a string
String test medium
In glass slide + bile
Incubation period for String test
22-25°C, Within seconds
Positive QC for String test
String-like formation between loop and slide (Vibrio spp.)
Negative QC for String test
No string formation