Tests for Micrococcus and Staphyloc Flashcards
Test for Micrococcus and Staphylococcus
Catalase Test
Screening test for Gram-positive organisms, differentiates Micrococcaceae from Streptococci
Catalase Test
Chemical reaction in Catalase Test
O2 + H2O2 → H2O and O2
Reagent for Catalase Test
3% or 30% hydrogen peroxide, 22-25°C
Positive QC for Catalase test: Copious bubbles/effervescence (positive)
S. aureus; False pos loop contaminated with blood agar
Negative QC for Catalase test No or weak effervescence (negative)
Streptococci (e.g., S. pyogenes)
Differentiate Micrococci from Staphylococci
Microdase (Modified Oxidase) test
Chemical reaction in Microdase test
Oxidase + reagent + Cytochrome C → Indophenol blue
Incubation conditions for Microdase test
22-25°C, 2 minutes
Positive QC for Microdase test: Blue to Purple-blue (positive)
Micrococcus luteus
Negative QC for Microdase test: No color change (negative)
S. aureus
Differentiate S. aureus from CoNS
Coagulase test
Chemical reaction in Coagulase test
Coagulase activates coagulase-reacting factor (CRF), a modified thrombin, which activates fibrinogen to fibrin clot
Reagent for Slide method coagulase test
Drop of EDTA Rabbit plasma
Incubation conditions for Slide method coagulase test
22-25°C, 5-10 seconds
Positive QC for Slide method: Clumping (positive)
S. aureus in rabbit plasma
Negative QC for Slide method: No clumps (negative)
S. epidermidis in water/saline
Reagent for Tube method coagulase test
0.5 mL EDTA Rabbit plasma
Incubation conditions for Tube method coagulase test
35-37°C, 1-4 hours
Positive QC for Coagulase Tube method: Clot (positive)
S. aureus in rabbit plasma
Negative QC for Coagulase Tube method: No clot (negative)
S. epidermidis in water/saline
Distinguish S. aureus, Serratia, and M. catarrhalis
DNase test
Chemical reaction in DNase test
DNA/Methyl Green complex + deoxyribonuclease → colorless
Media for DNase test
DNase agar
Reagent for DNase test
Methyl green
Incubation conditions for DNase test
35-37°C, 13-24 hours
Positive QC for DNase test/Methyl green: Colorless or Clearing (positive)
S. aureus
Negative QC for DNase test/Methyl green: : Green (negative)
E. coli
Chemical reaction in DNA/Toluidine Blue test
DNA/Toluidine Blue complex + deoxyribonuclease → colorless
Method for DNA/Toluidine Blue test
Agarose slant
Reagent for DNA/Toluidine Blue test
Toluidine blue
Positive QC for DNA/Toluidine Blue test: Deep pink (positive)
S. aureus
Negative QC for DNA/Toluidine Blue test: Blue (negative)
E. coli
Result for DNAse Hydrochloric acid test
No precipitate of DNA
Aids in ID of some GP cocci and bacilli
Voges-Proskauer (Coblentz method)
Chemical reaction in Voges-Proskauer test
Carbohydrate → 2,3-Butanediol or acetoin (end product)
Reagent for Voges-Proskauer test
MRVP medium, Solution A: α-naphthol, Solution B: 40% KOH with creatine
Incubation conditions for Voges-Proskauer test
22-25°C, 30 minutes
Positive QC for Voges-Proskauer test: RED (positive)
B. anthracis, B. cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, L. monocytogenes, Streptococcus anginosus
Negative QC for Voges-Proskauer test: Yellow (negative)
E. coli
Differentiates Clumping factor positive Staphylococci
PYR test
Chemical reaction in PYR test
L-Pyrrolidonyl-β-naphthylamide + L-pyrrolidonyl arylamidase → β-naphthylamine (detected by indicator)
Media for PYR test
Filter paper PYR disk
Reagent for PYR test
N,N-methylamino-Cinnamaldehyde
Incubation conditions for PYR test
22-25°C, 2 minutes
Positive QC for PYR test: Bright Red (positive)
S. intermedius, S. lugdunensis
Negative QC for PYR test: No color change (negative)
S. aureus
Coagulase test AKA
clumping factor, bound coagulase, slide method
Location of bound coagulase
Found on the surface of the cell, detected in slide coagulase
Slide Coagulase Procedure
Bacteria + drop of EDTA rabbit plasma on a glass slide or via latex agglutination
Slide Coagulase Incubation
Room temperature, immediate reaction
Positive result for Slide Coagulase
Agglutination (fibrin clumps)
Positive organism, PYR negative (Slide Coagulase)
S. aureus
Positive organism, PYR positive (Slide Coagulase)
S. lugdunensis, S. schleiferi, S. intermedius
Tube Coagulase test
Detects free coagulase, also known as staphylocoagulase or extracellular coagulase
Tube Coagulase Procedure
Bacteria + 0.5 mL EDTA rabbit plasma in a tube
Tube Coagulase Incubation
35°C for 1-4 hours (false negatives possible if >4 hours)
Positive result for Tube Coagulase
Clot formation
Positive organism (Tube Coagulase)
S. aureus (VP positive)
Negative organism (Tube Coagulase)
S. intermedius
Confirmation protocol for negative Coagulase test
Negative slide coagulase → tube coagulase → overnight incubation at room temperature → still no clot = coagulase negative
Media for Corynebacterium
Loeffler serum slant
Colony color of S. aureus
Golden yellow
Colony color of S. citreus
Lemon yellow
Colony color of S. albus (S. epidermidis)
Porcelain white