ID#: 3618
Caption:
This culture test shows the results of a decarboxylase reaction of an oxidative organism. This test detects the ability of an organism to decarboxylate an amino acid. Decarboxylation is a reaction, which removes the carboxyl group (COOH) of an amino acid, thereby, producing an amine and carbon dioxide. A change in color to a purplish coloration, as seen in the third tube from the left, indicates a positive result, which means the bacterium tested, produced the enzyme decarboxylase, which removes the carboxyl group from an amino acid, causing the fluid to become alkaline. The other tubes remained yellow, producing a negative result, and an environment in which no decarboxylation occurred. Sterile mineral oil was placed atop each solution, preventing environmental oxygen from interacting with the fluids.
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Content Provider(s): CDC/ R. E. Weaver, MD, PhD
Creation Date: 1971
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