Abtek Biologicals

For the in vitro detection of pyroglutamate aminopeptidase activity

PYR (L-pyroglutamic acid-ß-napthylamide) can be used to detect group A streptococci (Streptococcus pyogenes) and group D enterococci.

The disc should be placed on a slide and wet with distilled water. You should then pick several suspect colonies to obtain a heavy inoculum and rub them onto the disc before letting it dry. Then, add a drop of the reagent. If the test is positive, you will observe a colour change to cherry red.

For the sensitivity testing of yeast by NCCLS methods

Patients who are hospitalised for long periods of time, or who are immunocompromised, often suffer from yeast infections, particularly from the Candida spp. In order to prevent prolonged ineffective antifungal treatment with Fluconazole and Voriconazole, the NCCLS developed methods for the sensitivity testing of Candida spp.

Glucose Methylene Blue is a media supplement of 2% glucose to improve and accelerate the growth of the yeast, and 0.5µg of indicator to aid interpretation.

The supplement can be added during agar production, or the plate can be flooded before use. An Abtek Biologicals Fluconazole or Voriconazole susceptibility testing disc can then be placed onto the agar and the zone of inhibition measured.

References

A.Barry, J.Bille, S.Brown, D.Ellis, J.Meis, M.Pfaller, R.Rennie, M.Rinaldi, T.Rogers, and M.Traczewski. Quality Control Limits for Fluconazole Disk Susceptibility Tests on Mueller-Hinton Agar with Glucose and Methylene Blue. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, July 2003 p. 3410-3412

M.A.Pfaller, A. Barry, J.Bille, S.Brown, D.Ellis, J.F.Meis, R.Rennie, M.Rinaldi, T.Rogers, and M.Traczewski. Quality Control Limits for Voriconazole Disk Susceptibility Tests on Mueller-Hinton Agar with Glucose and Methylene Blue. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Apr 2004, p.1716-1718

For the in vitro differentiation of Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis

Abtek Biologicals are proud to announce the launch of Catarrhalis Discs for the in vitro differentiation of Morexella (Branhamella) catarrhalis. 

Over the last 25 years perceptions of M. catarrhalis have changed from it being a harmless commensal of the upper respiratory tract, to an important cause of lower respiratory tract infections, particularly in patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It can lead to a variety of infections from pneumonia to endocarditis, septicaemia and meningitis.

Researchers at Abtek have developed a simple disc test for identifying the presence of M. catarrhalis.

The filter paper discs contain an indicator that is highly sensitive to the Butylase esterase produced by M. catarrhalis. This indicator turns blue if the organism is present.

Simply place the disc on a slide; wet it with distilled water; rub a large colony of the suspect organism onto the discs and leave it for 5 minutes at room temperature. If the test is positive, it will turn blue.

The discs are supplied in vials of 25.

References

Cees M. Verduin, Cees Hol, Andre Fleer, Hans van Dijk, and Alex van Belkum. Moraxella catarrhalis: from Emerging to established Pathogen. Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jan 2002. p 125-144