Clinical microbiology focuses on detecting, identifying, and managing microorganisms that cause diseases in humans. It plays a crucial role in diagnosing infections, monitoring outbreaks, and guiding treatments. Key areas include:
Clinical microbiology aids in developing targeted therapies, ensuring effective infection control, and improving public health.
The potassium cyanide medium test (KCN test) is a microbiological test used to identify bacteria that can grow in the presence of potassium cyanide. The test is based on the fact that some bacteria are capable of utilizing KCN as a sole source of nitrogen. Potassium cyanide medium test Reagent (KCN test) Following are the … Read more
Methyl red test or MR test is an important biochemical test used to differentiate enterobacteria. Methyl red is used as a PH indicator. Methyl red test principle Some bacteria create sufficient acidity from glucose to give RED color with methyl red. While other organisms do not produce more acidity from glucose. Therefore in the negative … Read more
CAMP test stands for Christie, Atkins, Munch-Peterson test in microbiology. A clear area around the blood agar plate is a sign of a positive CAMP test. CAMP test principle A positive CAMP test produces a clear area around the colony on the surface of a blood agar plate that has been affected by the staphylococcus … Read more
The litmus milk decolorization test is an important biochemical; test used to identify clostridia. Litmus milk test principle A heavy inoculum of the test organism is incubated for up to 4 hours in a tube containing litmus milk. A change indicates a reduction of litmus milk in the medium color from mauve to white or … Read more
The phenylalanine deaminase test is important to differentiate proteus and providendia from other enterobacteria and enterocolitis. Principle of phenylalanine deaminase test Some enterobacteria members can form phenyl pyruvic acid from phenylalanine by oxidative deamination. When this phenylalanine reacts with acidified ammonium sulfate OR 10 % ferric chloride solution to form phenyl pyruvic acid.This phenyl pyruvic … Read more
Arginine is an amino acid that builds up protein. Arginine is hydrolyzed by some bacteria, which release an enzyme called arginine dihydrolase. It is characteristic of certain enterobacteria. Arginine dihydrolase test procedure There are two types of procedures. Procedure: 1 Following are the steps in procedure 1. In the case of streptococci, 0.5 ml of … Read more
Asculine is a glycoside and it is incorporated with a nutrient base a ferric salt. Aesculin hydrolysis means the breakdown of aesculin. This hydrolysis is indicated by a BROWN coloration. It occurs due to the reaction of aglycone (6.7 Dihydroxycoumarin) with iron. Sometimes another chemical (SODIUM AZIDE) is added. It acts as a preservative. The … Read more
The oxidation fermentation test was first discovered by the two scientists Hugh and Leifson in 1953. Therefore oxidation fermentation test was nominated as Hugh and Leifson test. The purpose of the Hugh and Leifson test is to differentiate between those organisms that oxidize carbohydrates ( aerobic organisms) and between those organisms that don’t oxidize carbohydrates … Read more
India ink stain is used for visualizing the capsule of encapsulated B. anthracis and other capsulated organisms, especially the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcus neoformans are identified from blood, blood culture bottles, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Material for India ink stain procedure Following are the materials for the procedure. India ink stain for cryptococcus procedure India … Read more
Heat fixation is the second method after the chemical fixation in histology. what is heat fixation in microbiology? The mechanism of heat fixation is, that it denatures the protein. It takes two to three minutes. Microwave ovens have overtaken the conventional heating method, due to their controlled environment. 45-55 C is the optimum temperature of … Read more