Coagulase Test
Principle
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The coagulase test is a method to differentiate pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of Staphylococcus.
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Bacteria that produce coagulase use it as a defense mechanism by clotting the areas of plasma around them, thereby enabling themselves to resist phagocytosis by the host's immune system.
Methodology
- Prepare a 1/10 dilution of plasma in saline and place 0.5 ml of this in a small tube.
- Inoculate 0.1 ml of a 24 hour broth culture into the plasma.
- Incubate the tube at 370C in a water bath for 3 hours.
Result
- If the organisms are positive for coagulase, the plasma will clot in 1 hour .
![Coagulase_test Coagulase_test](http://14.139.56.154:82/file.php/183/Topic-15/Coagulase_test.jpg)
Coagulase test
- Positive : Pathogenic Staphylococci
- Negative : Non pathogenic Staphylococci
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Last modified: Monday, 4 June 2012, 7:56 AM