Biochemical Tests for differentiating Neisseria and Moraxella compiled by JTC2019

I. Neisseria
Biochemical Reagent / culture media Positive result Differentiates Principle Precautions/
test ( + and S organism Notes
in bold )
Oxidase 1% dimethyl –p- Purple Neisseria Detection of the Do not use iron
phenylenediamine coloration cytochrome C loop (False +) ;
dihydrochloride enzyme Filter paper
method

Catalase 3% H2O2 Bubbling / Neisseria Detection of Exception:

Effervescence enzyme catalase N. elongata
N.bacilliformis

Superoxol 30% H2O2 Vigorous Neisseria Presumptive

test bubbling/ gonorrhea test to ID
effervescence (-) other Neisseria N.gonorrhoeae
Carbohydrate Cystine trypticase soy agar RedYellow Fermentation Confirms and
utilization base with 1% concentration coloration determines the
test of carbohydrates ; phenol red species of
indicator Neisseria ;
Incubated at a
non-CO2
incubator ; 24hr
incubation

Other tests employed  Positive result :

Agglutination
 Chromogenic substrates o Binding of
o Determines non-pathogenic Neisseria antigen to the
antibody
 Rapid fermentation test of Kellog and Turner  MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted Laser
Desorption/Ionization – Time Of Flight )
 Minitek  Molecular methods
o Test kit  (+) Growth in CAP
o CHO impregnated disk
 Immunologic assays
o Monoclonal antibodies
 Phadebact test
 Detects gonococcal
antigens
 Principle:
coagglutination
 Carrier particle:
S.aureus (Cowan strain)
o Carries the
antibody
 II. Moraxella
Biochemical Reagent / culture media Positive result Differentiates Principle Precautions/
test ( + and S organism Notes
in bold )
Oxidase 1% dimethyl –p- Purple Moraxella Detection of the Do not use iron
phenylenediamine coloration cytochrome C loop (False +) ;
dihydrochloride enzyme Filter paper
method

Catalase 3% H2O2 Bubbling / Moraxella Detection of

Effervescence enzyme catalase

Carbohydrate Cystine trypticase soy agar Red Fermentation Asaccharolytic

utilization base with 1% concentration
test of carbohydrates ; phenol red
indicator
DNAse DNA agar with toluidine blue Clear zone/ DNAse producing Detection of the Binding of pH
and methyl green as pH hydrolysis of the Moraxella DNAse enzyme indicator to the
indicators surrounding Negative For DNA
medium Neisseria
Main test of
differentiating
Moraxella from
Neisseria
Nitrate Reduction Most Neisseria
Nitrate Nitrite are negative