TABLE 5.

Comparison of miscellaneous tests used in systems for identification of gram-positive bacteria

Characteristic	Identification systema
	Identifies Micrococcaceae and Streptococcaceae				Identifies Micrococcaceae					Identifies Streptococcaceae
	MS GP	MS Rapid GP	Vitek GPI	Pasco GP ID	API Staph ID	Geary et al. (86)	Kloos and Bannerman (129)	API Staph ID 32	StaphZym	RapID STR	Rapid ID 32 Strep	API 20 Strep
Other hydrolases
40% bile esculin	+
DNase						+
Heat-stable nuclease							+
Esculin			+	+			+	+		+		+
Hemolysins				+		+	+
Hippurate											+	+
Staphylocoagulase							+
Clumping factor							+
No. of tests	1	0	1	2	0	2	5	1	0	1	1	1
Other metabolic tests
Arginine dihydrolase	+		+	+	+		+	+	+	+	+	+
Ornithine decarboxylase							+	+
Catalase				+			+
Nitrate reductase	+						+	+	+
Oxidase							+
Production of acetoin (VP)	+			+			+	+			+	+
Urease	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+	+		+
No. of tests	4	1	2	4	2	1	7	5	3	1	3	2

^aFor an explanation of the identification systems, see Table 1, footnote a.