Part of Thermo Fisher Scientific
OXIDASE DETECTION STRIPS
CODE: MB0266
These strips are impregnated with NNN’N’ tetramethyl -p- phenylene-diamine
dihydrochloride for the detection of bacterial cytochrome oxidase enzyme.
Method
a) Touch the colony to be tested with the Oxidase Detection Strip
and observe for up to 5 seconds. A deep blue/violet colour indicates a positive
reaction.
b) Transfer the colony to be tested to an Oxidase Detection Strip using a glass
capillary or platinum wire loop. Spread the culture on the strip and observe
for up to 5 seconds. A deep blue/violet colour indicates a positive reaction.
After use discard the strip into a suitable disinfectant.
Precautions
1. Colonies should not be removed from agar media using nichrome wire loops.
Nichrome contains iron which may catalyse the oxidation of the oxidase reagent.
2. Care should be taken when performing the oxidase test on colonies selected
from blood containing media. Red blood cells contain cytochrome oxidase which
may give rise to false positive results.
3. Oxidase tests should not be performed on colonies taken directly from carbohydrate
containing media, particularly if the organism ferments or oxidises the carbohydrate.
The low pH of the test colony and the surrounding media may result in false
negative results.