Nitrate Substrate Broth

Determine nitrate utilization by Mycobacterium spp. using Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ Nitrate Substrate Broth. The nitrate test is one amongst a battery of biochemical tests used to identify members of genus Mycobacterium based on the presence of nitrate reductase. The nitrate reduction procedure using chemical reagents is recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute to aid in the identification of Mycobacterium spp^1,2.

Mycobacteria, being a slow-growing bacteria, needs faster detection in the specimen samples for rapid diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. Nitrate reduction is the most sensitive test used for detecting the ability of Mycobacteria to reduce nitrate. The presence of the enzyme nitrate reductase is an important differential characteristic in identifying different species of Mycobacteria³.

• Ready to use: Convenience of prepared media.
• Easy to interpret: The development of a red color after the addition of three reagents: hydrochloric acid; sulfanilic acid and N-naphthylethylenediamine dihydrochloride indicates that the nitrate has been reduced to nitrite.
• Recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute

There are numerous end products of nitrate reduction which depend upon the bacterial species. The most important product amongst this is molecular nitrogen by way of nitrite reduction which is indicated by the presence of a catabolic end product or the absence of nitrate in the medium. A positive test occurs when nitrite reacts with the three reagents and a red color is developed due to the formation of a diazonium compound. When confirming a negative test (no color change) by adding zinc dust, the reduction of the diazonium salt by zinc in the presence of acetic acid produces a red colored compound, arylhydrazine⁴.

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