Liofilchem™ Phenylalanine Reagent

Ferric Chloride Reagent for Microbial Differentiation via Phenylalanine Deamination

Liofilchem® Phenylalanine Reagent is a ready-to-use, aqueous ferric chloride solution designed for the rapid biochemical differentiation of microorganisms based on their ability to deaminate phenylalanine into phenylpyruvic acid. This test is particularly useful in distinguishing species within the Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella genera from other Enterobacteriaceae, such as Escherichia and Citrobacter, which generally yield negative results.

The reagent reacts with phenylpyruvic acid, forming a characteristic green coloration within minutes, enabling fast and reliable interpretation in microbiological diagnostics.

Key Features & Benefits

✅ Rapid and Distinct Colorimetric Reaction

• A visible green coloration develops within 5 minutes if phenylpyruvic acid is present, indicating a positive result.
• Enhances speed and clarity of microbial identification workflows.

✅ High Specificity for Deaminase Activity

• Differentiates bacteria capable of phenylalanine deamination, such as Proteus mirabilis, Providencia spp., and Morganella morganii.

✅ Simple Procedure with Visual Results

• Only 4–5 drops of reagent required. Results can be interpreted directly from the slant surface.
• No additional instrumentation is needed.

✅ Ready-to-Use Format

• Supplied in 25 mL bottles. No dilution or preparation required.
• Convenient and stable with a 2-year shelf life.

✅ Validated Against Control Strains

• Quality control includes positive and negative reference strains (e.g., E. coli ATCC 25922 – negative; P. mirabilis ATCC 25933 – positive).

Applications

• Clinical Diagnostics: Differentiation of Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella in patient samples.
• Food & Environmental Microbiology: Confirmatory testing of Gram-negative isolates.
• Pharmaceutical QC Labs: Routine microbial identification.
• Educational & Research Labs: Teaching tool for biochemical microbial testing.

How It Works (Test Principle)

1. A pure culture is inoculated onto Phenylalanine Agar and incubated at 35 ± 2°C for 24 hours.
2. Add 4–5 drops of Phenylalanine Reagent to the agar slant.
3. If phenylpyruvic acid is present (a product of deamination), it will react with ferric chloride in the reagent, forming a green color.
4. No color change indicates a negative result (no deamination).

Performance & Quality Control

Storage & Stability

• Storage: 2–8°C in original packaging. Avoid exposure to light and heat.
• Shelf Life: 2 years from the date of manufacture.

Ordering Information

The Liofilchem® Phenylalanine Reagent is a reliable, easy-to-use solution for the differentiation of microorganisms based on phenylalanine deaminase activity. Its fast-acting colorimetric response and compatibility with standard phenylalanine agar make it a valuable tool in clinical and research microbiology for identifying key Gram-negative bacterial species.