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Urease Test

The urease test for Enterobacteriaceae detects the presence of urease enzyme which hydrolyzes urea to produce ammonia, indicated by a color change in phenol red from yellow to pink/magenta. Results are interpreted based on the time taken for color change, with pink indicating urease production and yellow indicating negativity. This test is significant for differentiating species like Proteus and Klebsiella, and it has implications for urinary pH and related infections.

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3 views1 page

Urease Test

The urease test for Enterobacteriaceae detects the presence of urease enzyme which hydrolyzes urea to produce ammonia, indicated by a color change in phenol red from yellow to pink/magenta. Results are interpreted based on the time taken for color change, with pink indicating urease production and yellow indicating negativity. This test is significant for differentiating species like Proteus and Klebsiella, and it has implications for urinary pH and related infections.

Uploaded by

tusudavies
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

UREASE TEST — ENTEROBACTERIACEAE

Principle

Urease enzyme hydrolyses urea to form ammonia and carbon dioxide.


Ammonia raises the pH.

Urea + H₂O → 2NH₃ + CO₂


Phenol red indicator changes:

Yellow to Pink/Magenta = Positive

No change/Yellow = Negative

Medium: Christensen's Urea Agar

Which contains Urea 2%, Phenol red, Peptone/Glucose, Buffer (pH 6.8)

Reading Results

Result Interpretation
Pink within 1–4
Strong urease producer
h
Weak/slow urease
Pink by 24–48 h
producer
Yellow/no
Urease negative
change

Diagnostic Significance

Proteus: rapid urease + swarming motility + H₂S production.

Differentiates Klebsiella (+) from E. coli (−).

Rapid urease argues against Salmonella/Shigella in enteric infections.

Proteus urease increases urinary pH that causes struvite stones and


recurrent UTIs.

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