All You Need to Know About the Biochemical Test

A biochemical test can help test for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterias. 

Being able to identify the type of bacteria is crucial for the host because then only can one properly diagnose and treat the following. There are two defining visual factors in differentiating between Gram-positive and gram-negative species of bacteria, and they are:

1. The thickness of the peptidoglycan layer and the presence of the outer lipid membrane.

2. The visual effect that the difference in how both of the walls of the bacteria are made is very different, which can cause the gram stain procedure to lose its violet shade and turn into a red one; this can be easily observed under a microscope. This happens due to the wall’s structure losing its Crystal violet stain.

These biochemical pathology tests are done on your blood and depend on the presence of specific enzymes produced by the bacteria without which it would be a waste of resources to conduct this test; these enzymes are:

• catalase, 

• oxidase, 

• urease, 

• gelatinase, etc.

All beings contain some characteristics about them, which is different, and this case is also true in the case of bacteria. Bacterias possess a set of unique bacterial enzymes which then, later on, react to certain chemicals and then thus are tested positive or negative for the same. Based on the reaction of a biochemical test, one can easily know which bacteria and what kind of bacteria they have to figure out how to defeat it and if it’s treatable or not. Doctors base their treatment and diagnosis on this test because it is that much more accurate.

Tests that measure these bacterial enzymes are easy to study, perform and are very reliable. They can easily be performed on bacteria that have been cultured for easy observation. In addition, these enzymes that bacteria possess can easily let you know what all tests should be taken.

So here are some basic biochemical tests that are done on Intracellular and Extracellular enzymes:

As the name suggests, intracellular enzymes work internally. These are responsible for the growth and development of new cell membranes in bacteria. These also allow very simple substances as well as generate energy that helps in the utilization of these substances that help in growing. A couple of the tests based on these enzymes include:

• Catalase Test

These aerobic enzymes do detoxification of Hydrogen peroxide. Oxidase Test can easily detect the presence of this if there are oxygen bubbles present.

The test uses filter paper applied with an oxidase mix; the timely colour change of this filter paper indicates the positive result.

• Indole Test

This kind of bacteria does formation of indole, ammonia and pyruvic acid from tryptophan. A color change during the test determines the success of the test.   

These enzymes are secreted outside the cellular wall, opposite to what Intracellular enzymes stand for. 

These help in breaking down Macromolecules. These can spread throughout the cell membrane. Some extracellular enzyme tests include:

• Coagulase test

Coagulase converts fibrinogen to fibrin, produced by the bacteria, which means it can turn plasma into a semi-solid state.

In the test duration, the coagulate plasma and coagulate remain undispersed; then, it would show positive test results.

• Dnase test

Dnase or deoxyribonuclease is found in a lot of bacteria and is capable of hydrolyzing the DNA. Therefore, an agar plate containing DNA can tell us if Dnase is present or not.

Some other tests that study extracellular enzymes include the 

• gelatinase test, 

• starch hydrolysis test, 

• and lipid hydrolysis test.

Hope you understand the importance of Biochemical tests and how easy they make our lives as we are hosts to millions of bacteria without even knowing it. Getting a regular full body health check-up can help you be on top of your health as biochemical tests are conducted in every pathology lab as blood tests.