Liofilchem™ Hippurate Test kit, 30 Tests

The Liofilchem™ Hippurate Test is a rapid diagnostic kit designed to detect the hydrolysis of sodium hippurate by certain bacteria. This test is commonly used to differentiate Lancefield Group B Streptococci (GBS) from other β-hemolytic streptococci and to identify organisms such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Legionella pneumophila, and Campylobacter jejuni. The kit provides a simple, reliable method for detecting hippurate hydrolysis.

Key Features

1. Rapid Detection:
   • Differentiates bacteria capable of hydrolyzing sodium hippurate within 2 hours.
2. Comprehensive Kit:
   • Includes Ninhydrin Reagent, Hippurate Test discs, and empty tubes.
3. Validated for Clinical Use:
   • Tested with standard QC strains to ensure reliable results.
4. Simple Colorimetric Interpretation:
   • Positive reaction: Blue-purple color change.
   • Negative reaction: No color change.

Kit Contents

• 1 vial of Ninhydrin Reagent (5 mL) with dropper bottle.
• 1 cartridge with 30 Hippurate Test discs.
• 30 empty test tubes.

Method Principle

• Hippurate hydrolysis:
  • Bacteria producing the enzyme hippurate hydrolase (hippuricase) hydrolyze sodium hippurate into sodium benzoate and glycine.
  • Ninhydrin Reagent detects glycine by forming a blue to purple complex through oxidative deamination and reaction with ammonia.

Applications

1. Clinical Microbiology:
   • Differentiation of Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococci) from other β-hemolytic streptococci.
   • Identification of bacteria like Gardnerella vaginalis, Legionella pneumophila, and Campylobacter jejuni.
2. Food and Environmental Testing:
   • Monitoring contamination by hippurate-hydrolyzing bacteria.

Test Procedure

1. Add 0.2 mL of sterile physiological solution to a test tube.
2. Inoculate with 1–3 colonies of a fresh isolate and mix well.
3. Using forceps, drop a Hippurate Test disc into the suspension.
4. Incubate at 35 ± 2°C for 2 hours.
5. Add 2 drops of Ninhydrin Reagent, shake gently, and re-incubate for 10 minutes.
   • Do not exceed 30 minutes to avoid false-positive results.

Interpreting Results

Quality Control

• Expected Reactions:

  Control Strain	Reaction
  Streptococcus agalactiae ATCC® 13813	Positive (Blue)
  Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC® 19615	Negative (No color)

• Appearance:
  • Ninhydrin Reagent: Clear yellow liquid.

Storage and Shelf Life

• Storage:
  • Store at 2–8°C in original packaging.
  • Avoid exposure to heat and temperature fluctuations.
• Shelf Life:
  • Valid for 2 years from the date of manufacture.

Warnings and Precautions

1. For in vitro diagnostic use (IVD) only.
2. Use with pure cultures to ensure accuracy.
3. Follow laboratory safety and aseptic techniques.
4. Dispose of used materials according to local regulations.

Advantages

• Fast and Reliable:
  • Provides results in as little as 2 hours.
• Validated for Accuracy:
  • Tested with standard control strains for reliability.
• User-Friendly:
  • Includes all necessary components for easy setup and execution.
• Broad Application:
  • Differentiates clinically relevant bacteria across various applications.

Limitations

• Further Testing Required:
  • Results are presumptive; additional biochemical or molecular tests may be needed.
• Potential Weak Positives:
  • Some Group D Streptococci may produce weak positive reactions.

Packaging

References

1. Finegold S.M., Martin W.J., Scott E.G. (1978). Bailey and Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology, 5th Edition.
2. Koneman E.W., Allen V.R.D., Sommers H.M. (1983). Color Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology, 2nd Edition.
3. Piot, P. Gardnerella vaginalis. In: Manual of Clinical Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology, 1985.
4. Chapin K.C., Lauderdale T.L. (2003). Manual of Clinical Microbiology, American Society for Microbiology.

Why Choose Liofilchem Hippurate Test?

• Fast and Accurate: Simplifies identification of hippurate-hydrolyzing bacteria.
• Validated Performance: Trusted for reliable results in clinical microbiology.
• Cost-Effective: Comprehensive kit with 30 tests per package.