[The hydrogen peroxide microvolumetric method of the OF test: the rapid determination of glucose oxidation and fermentation by gram-negative bacteria].

For the first time the method of the rapid (1 hour) screening of groups of gram-negative bacteria by the OF test with glucose, carried out with the use of microvolumetric techniques, has been developed. The method is based on the use of hydrogen peroxide at non-bactericidal concentration as a component of a liquid buffer medium containing indicator and glucose and intended for the oxidation of glucose. Catalase of bacteria introduced into the medium for study ensures the rapid saturation of the medium with oxygen and the completion of the oxidation of glucose in 10-60 minutes. An equal period is necessary to achieve the complete fermentation of glucose in the same medium without hydrogen peroxide. The method has been proved to yield significant results in the joint study of the OF test on 502 strains, belonging to 21 genera of fermenting and nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria, by the hydrogen peroxide method and in Hugh-Leifson medium.