Blood agar media: Differentiates between alpha, beta

& gamma hemolytic Streptococci.

Mannitol salt agar principle : is used as a selective and
differential medium for the isolation and identification of
Staphylococcus aureus from clinical and non-clinical specimens. It
encourages the growth of a group of certain bacteria while inhibiting
the growth of others.
Dnase test principle: is used to determine the ability of
an organism to hydrolyze DNA.
Novobiocin sensivity test principle: is used to differentiate coagulase-
negative staphylococci (CONS) and presumptively identify the
isolate as Staphylococcus saprophyticus (novobiocin resistant).
Catalase test principle :is a biochemical
test for aerobic organisms that detects the
production of catalase enzyme in the
organism and its used to differentiate
between staphylococci and streptococci .
Catalase catalyze water and oxygen from
hydrogen peroxide
Coagulase test : is used to differentiate
Staphylococcus aureus (positive)
from Coagulase Negative
Staphylococcus (CONS). Coagulase is an
enzyme produced by S. aureus that
converts (soluble) fibrinogen in plasma to
(insoluble) fibrin.
Oxidase test : identifies organisms that produce the enzyme cytochrome
oxidase. Used to differentiate group of gram negative bacteria .Oxidase is
indicated when its react with 1% tetra-methyl-p-phenylendimine
dihydrochloride.
Bacitracin sensitivity test: used to distinguish between organisms
sensitive to the antibiotic bacitracin and those not. Bacitracin is a peptide
antibiotic produced by Bacillus subtilis. It inhibits cell wall synthesis and
disrupts the cell membrane.
Bile Esculin agar :biochemical test for the isolation of
Enterococci and Group D Streptococci. It can also be used
to differentiate these organisms from viridans Streptococci
and other Gram-positive microorganisms.
CAMP test: is a test to identify group B β-hemolytic streptococci
(Streptococcus agalactiae) based on their formation of a substance
(CAMP factor) that enlarges the area of hemolysis formed by the
β-hemolysin elaborated from Staphylococcus aureus.
 Hippurate hydrolysis test :is used to detect the ability of
bacteria to hydrolyse substrate hippurate into glycine and
benzoic acid by action of hippuricase enzyme present in
bacteria.
Streptex Test System (lancefield grouping): Group specific antigens are
extracted from streptococci in a simple incubation step. Antigens are
then identified using polystyrene latex particles which have been
coated with group-specific antibodies. These latex particles
agglutinate strongly in the presence of homologous antigen, and
remain in smooth suspension in the absence of homologous antigen.
Optochin sensitivity test :This test determines whether the bacterium is
either sensitive (susceptible) to optochin or resistant to the chemical.
Bile solubility test :The bile solubility test is based on the observation
that Streptococcus pneumoniae visibly lyse when 2% or 10% sodium desoxycholate (bile
salts) is applied to the colony under specific condition of time and temperature, but
other Streptococci do not lyse. Lysis depends on the presence of an intracellular autolytic
enzyme, an amidase, which is produced by Streptococcus pneumonia and is activated by bile
salts. Bile salts lower the surface tension of the medium-membrane interface and under these
condition, Streptococcus pneumonia is susceptible to disruption by enzyme action thus
enhancing the organism’s natural autolysis process. is a qualitative procedure for determining
the ability of bacterial cells to lyse in the presence of bile salts under specific conditions of
time and temperature. The test is primarily used to differentiate bile soluble Streptococcus
pneumoniae from bile insoluble alpha-hemolytic streptococci.
Maccakony agar: is a selective and differential medium designed
to isolate and differentiate enterics based on their ability to
ferment lactose.
Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) test: is a microbiological test roughly named for its
ability to test a microorganism's ability to ferment sugars and to produce
hydrogen sulfide. It is often used to differentiate enteric bacteria including
Salmonella and Shigella.
 Lysine iron agar or LIA :Lysine iron agar contains lysine, peptones, a small amount of glucose,
ferric ammonium citrate, and sodium thiosulfate. The medium has an aerobic slant and an
anaerobic butt. When glucose is fermented, the butt of the medium becomes acidic (yellow). If the
organism produces lysine decarboxylase, cadaverine is formed. Cadaverine neutralizes the organic
acids formed by glucose fermentation, and the butt of the medium reverts to the alkaline state
(purple). If the decarboxylase is not produced, the butt remains acidic (yellow). If oxidative
deamination of lysine occurs, a compound is formed that, in the presence of ferric ammonium
citrate and a coenzyme, flavin mononucleotide, forms a burgundy color on the slant. If deamination
does not occur, the LIA slant remains purple. Bromocresol purple, the pH indicator, is yellow at or
below pH 5.2 and purple at or above pH 6.8.
Indole test :determining the ability of
bacteria to produce indole by
deamination of tryptophan. Especially
for E.coli .Tryptophanase degrade
tryptophan into pyruvic acid , ammonia
and indole.
Urease test : identifies those organisms
that are capable of hydrolyzing urea to
produce ammonia and carbon dioxide. It
is primarily used to distinguish urease-
positive Proteeae from other
Enterobacteriaceae.
Citrate testing: is used to determine the ability of the bacteria to use
sodium citrate as the only source of carbon and inorganic ammonium
hydrogen phosphate (NH4H2PO4) as a source of nitrogen.