Coagulase Test: Do's & Don'ts

The coagulase test is one of the most frequently used tests in microbiology labs to detect Staphylococcus aureus and distinguish it from most other Staphylococci species.

Coagulase, a prothrombin-like enzyme found in Staphylococci, is capable of converting fibrinogen into fibrin. In vivo, coagulase is thought to work by forming a fibrin coating at the site of a staphylococcal infection. This enzyme helps to localize abscesses like carbuncles and furuncles and creates a barrier to antimicrobial medications and leucocyte phagocytic activity.

There are two types of coagulase: bound and free. Because each form has unique features, distinct testing methods is used to assess it.

There are a few dos and don'ts to bear in mind when performing the coagulase test and analysing the results. Let's take a look at these crucial pointers.

References

1. MacFaddin, J. Biochemical Tests for Identification of Medical Bacteria. 3rd ed. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Philadelphia,2000.

2. Forbes BA, Sahm DF, Weissfeld AS. Bailey and Scott’s diagnostic microbiology. 13th ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 2013.

3. Mackie and Mccartney “Practical medical Microbiology”21st edition, Churchill Livingstone.