Microbiological Tests Only

Blood Agar

Used for growing most non-fastidious bacteria.

Gram Stain

Differentiates bacteria into gram-positive (purple-colored) and gram-negative (red or pink).

Chocolate Agar

Used for growing fastidious bacteria

Acid Fast Stain

Helps identify Mycobacteria species and Cryptosporidium.

Auramine-Rhodamine

Fluorochrome staining used to identify certain acid-fast bacteria (mycobacterium)

MacConkey Agar

Selectively grows gram-negative enteric rods

Modified Acid Fast Stain (Ziehl-Neelsen stain)

Helps identify Nocardia bacteria.

Lowenstein/Jensen Agar

Used for growing Mycobacteria

Capsule Stain (India Ink)

Used for visualizing capsules of select organisms

Sabouraud Dextrose Agar

Used for growing fungi.

Giemsa Stain

Used for staining protozoan parasites and some bacteria.

Catalase Test

Used to distinguish bacteria based on their ability to produce the enzyme catalase.

Coagulase Test

Used to differentiate Staphylococcus aureus from other Staphylococcus species.

Beta-hemolysis

Hemolysis of blood agar caused by certain bacteria.

Alpha-hemolysis

Partial hemolysis of blood agar caused by certain bacteria.

P-Disc Sensitivity (Optochin sensitivity)

Used to differentiate Streptococcus pneumoniae from other alpha-hemolytic Streptococci.

A-Disc Sensitivity

Used to differentiate Group A Streptococci (S. pyogenes) from other beta-hemolytic Streptococci.

Lactose Fermentation

Ability of bacteria to ferment lactose

Sorbitol Fermentation

Used to identify E. coli 0157

Oxidase Activity

Presence of the enzyme oxidase in certain bacteria.

Urinary Antigen Testing

Used to detect specific pathogens in the urine

Super-Oxide Dismutase

Enzyme used by organisms to combat reactive oxygen species.

KOH & H&E

Used for distinguishing and visualizing fungi under a microscope.

Cold Hemagglutinins

Test to determine if bacteria cause agglutination of red blood cells at low temperatures.