1 MICROBIOLOGY NOTES

STAPH VS COAGULASE TEST

MICROBIOLOGY
Uses citrated rabbit’s plasma (blue top)
GRAM STAINING
Uses blue top, as it allows the specimen to clot but
Crystal Violet. Primary Stain, help penetrate gram
also prevent it to completely coagulate. Do not use
(+) bacteria
EDTA as it chelates calcium.
Gram’s Iodine. Mordant, fix the color of gram (+)
Use 0.50ml citrated plasma, mixed with 1-2 colonies
Acid Alcohol. Decolorizer
Coagulase (+) – S. AUREUS
Safranin. Secondary Stain
CoNS (Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci)
AFB primary stain, Carbol Fuschin. Secondary stain, Coagulase (-) – S. EPIDERMIDIS
Methylene Blue/Malachite Green - S. SAPROPHYTICUS
- S. LUGDUNENSIS

S. Epidermidis S. Saphrophyticus
STRING TEST
- endocarditis, serious - White to yellow
→ Confirmatory test for Gram staining infection following colonies
→ String Test (+) – Gram Negative the insertion of - adheres to the
prosthetic heart epithelial cell lining
→ String Test (-) – Gram Positive
valves of the Urogenital
→ Uses 3% Potassium hydroxide (KOH) - white, creamy Tract
colonies. - flora of the skin
- most common
cause of UTI in
CATALASE TEST sexually active
young women
→ Catalase Test (+) – Staph
→ Catalase Test (-) – Strep
→ Uses 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) Antibiotic: NOVOBIOCIN
Susceptible Resistant
Superoxol Test
For N. Gonorrhea, uses 20% hydrogen peroxide

STAPH
Gram (+), Cocci in Clusters

String Test (-), Catalase (+)

Catabolizes the oxygen in H2 O2 showing an

effervescence reaction (bubbling).

STREP
Gram (+), Cocci in Chains

String Test (-), Catalase (-)

MTI NICK 1