Skip to main content
Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1975 Apr;29(4):502–505. doi: 10.1128/am.29.4.502-505.1975

Interpretation of the Tube Coagulase Test for Identification of Staphylococcus aureus

WH Sperber *, SR Tatini *
PMCID: PMC187014  PMID: 164821

Abstract

The tube coagulase test is a valid means of identifying Staphylococcus aureus, provided that only a firm clot that does not move when the tube is tipped is considered a positive reaction. The widely promulgated interpretation that all degrees of clotting in coagulase plasma are a positive identification of S. aureus was disproved by the use of other tests such as anaerobic glucose fermentation thermonuclease production, and lysostaphin sensitivity. It was found that the source of supply of the coagulase plasma is a factor in the occurrence of false-positive coagulase test results. The use of pig and rabbit plasma in the tube coagulase test is also discussed.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Barry A. L., Lachica R. V., Atchison F. W. Identification of Staphylococcus aureus by simultaneous use of tube coagulase and thermonuclease tests. Appl Microbiol. 1973 Mar;25(3):496–497. doi: 10.1128/am.25.3.496-497.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CASMAN E. P., BENNETT R. W. DETECTION OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENTEROTOXIN IN FOOD. Appl Microbiol. 1965 Mar;13:181–189. doi: 10.1128/am.13.2.181-189.1965. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. COWAN S. T., STEEL K. L. COMPARISON OF DIFFERENTIATING CRITERIA FOR STAPHYLOCOCCI AND MICROCOCCI. J Bacteriol. 1964 Sep;88:804–805. doi: 10.1128/jb.88.3.804-805.1964. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Lachica R. V., Genigeorgis C., Hoeprich P. D. Metachromatic agar-diffusion methods for detecting staphylococcal nuclease activity. Appl Microbiol. 1971 Apr;21(4):585–587. doi: 10.1128/am.21.4.585-587.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Lachica R. V., Hoeprich P. D., Genigeorgis C. Nuclease production and lysostaphin susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus and other catalase-positive cocci. Appl Microbiol. 1971 May;21(5):823–826. doi: 10.1128/am.21.5.823-826.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Orth D. S., Chugg L. R., Anderson A. W. Comparison of animal sera for suitability in coagulase testing. Appl Microbiol. 1971 Mar;21(3):420–425. doi: 10.1128/am.21.3.420-425.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. TURNER F. J., SCHWARTZ B. S. The use of a lyophilized human plasma standardized for blood coagulation factors in the coagulase and fibrinolytic tests. J Lab Clin Med. 1958 Dec;52(6):888–894. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Tager M., Drummond M. C. Staphylocoagulase. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1965 Jul 23;128(1):92–111. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1965.tb11632.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. WHITE F., RATTRAY E. A., DAVIDSON D. J. Sensitivity to antibiotics and biochemical activities of serotypes of bovine staphylococci. J Comp Pathol. 1963 Jan;73:21–26. doi: 10.1016/s0368-1742(63)80003-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES