Use of paper indicator systems for the rapid identification of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Neisseria meningitidis and the genus Staphylococcus

The possibility of using paper indicator discs with glucose, saccharose, lactose and urea, manufactured at the Gorky Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, has been studied and the methods for the preparation of indicator discs with fructose, maltose, starch and sodium phenolphthalein-phosphate for the biochemical identification of C. diphtheriae, N. meningitidis and staphylococci have been proposed. The study of 395 C. diphtheriae strains, 98 N. meningitidis strains and 328 staphylococcal strains has shown that paper indicator systems are highly sensitive and specific, which makes it possible to recommend their introduction in laboratory practice for the rapid identification of the above-mentioned organisms.