PHYSIOLOGICAL TESTS FOR BACTERIAL
IDENTIFICATION
Sugar Fermentation
Tests an organism's ability to ferment glucose, commonly used to identify Gram -
enteric bacteria.
Mixed acid fermentation
Also known as methyl red test; used to test fermentative organisms that convert sugars
into various organic acids.
Butanediol fermentation
Also known as Vogues-Proskauer test; tests the ability of an organism to convert
glucose to acetoin or butanediol.
Nitrate Reduction
Determines if an organism can reduce nitrate to nitrite.
IMViC
A series of tests including Indole, Methyl red, Vogues-Proskauer, and citrate utilization.
Starch Hydrolysis
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce amylases that break down starch.
Casein Hydrolysis
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce proteases that degrade casein into peptides
and amino acids.
Fat Hydrolysis
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce lipases that cleave fatty acids from glycerol.
Tryptophan Hydrolysis
Also known as Indole test; tests for the ability to split tryptophan into pyruvate and
indole.
Urea Hydrolysis
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce urease, which splits urea into CO2 and
ammonia.
Phenylalanine deamination
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce phenylalanase, which deaminates
phenylalanine.
Hydrogen sulfide production
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce hydrogen sulfide in SIM media.
Citrate Utilization
Tests for the ability of bacteria to utilize citrate as a carbon source.
Catalase Production
Tests for the presence of catalase enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide.
Oxidase Production
Tests for the presence of oxidase enzyme that reacts with oxidase test reagent.
Staphylococci
Gram-positive cocci that form grape-like clusters, non-motile, and catalase positive.
Mannitol Salts Agar (MSA)
IDENTIFICATION
Sugar Fermentation
Tests an organism's ability to ferment glucose, commonly used to identify Gram -
enteric bacteria.
Mixed acid fermentation
Also known as methyl red test; used to test fermentative organisms that convert sugars
into various organic acids.
Butanediol fermentation
Also known as Vogues-Proskauer test; tests the ability of an organism to convert
glucose to acetoin or butanediol.
Nitrate Reduction
Determines if an organism can reduce nitrate to nitrite.
IMViC
A series of tests including Indole, Methyl red, Vogues-Proskauer, and citrate utilization.
Starch Hydrolysis
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce amylases that break down starch.
Casein Hydrolysis
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce proteases that degrade casein into peptides
and amino acids.
Fat Hydrolysis
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce lipases that cleave fatty acids from glycerol.
Tryptophan Hydrolysis
Also known as Indole test; tests for the ability to split tryptophan into pyruvate and
indole.
Urea Hydrolysis
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce urease, which splits urea into CO2 and
ammonia.
Phenylalanine deamination
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce phenylalanase, which deaminates
phenylalanine.
Hydrogen sulfide production
Tests for the ability of bacteria to produce hydrogen sulfide in SIM media.
Citrate Utilization
Tests for the ability of bacteria to utilize citrate as a carbon source.
Catalase Production
Tests for the presence of catalase enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide.
Oxidase Production
Tests for the presence of oxidase enzyme that reacts with oxidase test reagent.
Staphylococci
Gram-positive cocci that form grape-like clusters, non-motile, and catalase positive.
Mannitol Salts Agar (MSA)
