CARBOHYDRATE FERMENTATION TESTS

Objective:

To determine the ability of an organism to ferment (degrade) a specific carbohydrate in a basal medium producing acid or acid with visible gas. The acid would change the color of the medium in a positive test.

The following carbohydrate semi-solid media tubes are available at our lab:

• Arabinose
• Glucose
• Glycerol
• Inulin
• Maltose
• Sorbitol
• Trehalose
• Xylose

Test Procedure

1. Using a sterile needle, stab the tube within 1/4 inch of the bottom with medium inoculation.
2. Incubate for at least 48 hrs. Bacteria that are known to be slow growers should be given up to 96 hours.

Interpretation:

• Fermentation
• Positive: Any yellow color (not orange). It does not necessarily have to be the whole tube. A positive result is referred to as ("+") or (A) or (Acid), as fermentation forms acidic products.
• Negative: A red, pink or orange color - no yellow at all.
• Gas production
• Positive: Significant bubbling in semisolid medium (one small bubble is generally negative, caused by the stab). Gas may also cause the medium to get separated from tube. Record as (G) for positive gas production.
• Negative: No gas bubbles except those produced by stabbing.