What's the significance of oxidase tests?
Posted May 9, 2024
Answer
The significance of oxidase tests is that they help to identify microorganisms that contain the enzyme cytochrome oxidase. The oxidase test involves adding a colorless reagent tetra-methyl- p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (TMPD) to a sample. If the cytochrome c oxidase enzyme is present, TMPD gets oxidized and changes from colorless to a purple or dark blue compound. If cytochrome c is absent, TMPD remains reduced and colorless.
Additional resources
Use of a quantitative oxidase test for characterizing oxidative metabolism in bacteria
Amplite® Fluorimetric Monoamine Oxidase Assay Kit *Red Fluorescence*