High grade Decarboxylase Broth Base is supplied by Micromaster. It is available in the form of a light yellow to greenish yellow homogeneous free flowing powder with a pH in the range of 5.8 to 6.2. For maximum efficiency, it must be stored below 30C in tightly closed container.

Quantity provided: 500g /pack

Moeller Decarboxylase Broth Base when supplemented with an appropriate L-amino acid is used to differentiate bacteria, on the basis of their ability to decarboxylate the amino acids. Moeller introduced the Decarboxylase Broth for detecting the production of lysine and ornithine decarboxylase and arginine dihydrolase. Production of ornithine decarboxylase is a helpful criterion in differentiating Klebsiella and Enterobacter species. Klebsiella are nonmotile and do not produce ornithine decarboxylase while Enterobacter except for Enterobacter agglomerans, are motile and produce ornithine decarboxylase. Decarboxylase Broth Base contains beef extract and peptic digest of animal tissue, which provide nitrogenous nutrients for the growth of bacteria. Dextrose is the fermentable carbohydrate and pyridoxal is the co-factor for the decarboxylase enzyme. Bromo cresol purple and cresol red are the pH indicators in this medium. When the medium is inoculated with the dextrose fermenting bacteria, the pH is lowered due to acid production, which changes the colour of the indicator from purple to yellow. Formation of amines increases the pH of the medium, changing the colour of the indicator from yellow to purple. If the organisms do not produce the appropriate enzyme, the medium remains acidic, yellow in colour. Each isolate to be tested should also be inoculated into Moeller Decarboxylase Broth Base medium tube lacking the amino acid.