Culture reference strains

Examples of reference strains

Here is a handy list of reference strains for different microbiological tests.

Test	Example Reference Strain
Aesculin Hydrolysis Test	Positive control Negative control	Enterococcus faecalis NCTC 12697 Streptococcus agalactiae NCTC 8181
Agglutination Test	Positive control Negative control	N/A
Bile Solubility Test	Positive control Negative control	Streptococcus pneumoniae NCTC 12977 Streptococcus mitis NCTC 10712
Catalase Test	Positive control Negative control	Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 Streptococcus mitis NCTC 10712
Coagulase Test	Positive control Negative control	Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 Staphylococcus haemolyticus NCTC 11042
Deoxyribonuclease Test	Positive control Negative control	Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 Staphylococcus haemolyticus NCTC 11042
Indole Test	Positive control Negative control	Escherichia coli NCTC 10418 Proteus mirabilis NCTC 10975
Motility Test	Positive control Negative control	Proteus mirabilis NCTC 10975 Acinetobacter lwoffii NCTC 5866
Nagler Test	Positive control Negative control	Clostridium perfringens NCTC 8359* Clostridium difficile NCTC 11204*
ONPG (ß-Galactosidase) Test (for Enterobacteriaceae)	Positive control Negative control	Escherichia coli NCTC 10418 Proteus mirabilis NCTC 10975
ONPG (ß-Galactosidase) Test (for Neisseria species	Positive control Negative control	Neisseria lactamica NCTC 10617 Neisseria gonorrhoeae NCTC 8375
Optochin Test	Positive control Negative control	Streptococcus pneumoniae NCTC 12977 Streptococcus mitis NCTC 10712
Oxidase Test	Positive control Negative control	Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 10662 Escherichia coli NCTC 10418
Oxidation/Fermentation of Glucose Test (Gram negative rods)	Oxidation: Positive control Negative control	Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 10662 Acinetobacter Iwoffii NCTC 5866
Oxidation/Fermentation of Glucose Test (Gram positive cocci)	Oxidation: Positive control Negative control	Micrococcus luteus NCTC 2665 OF basal medium without carbohydrate
Porphyrin synthesis (ALA) Test	Positive control Negative control	Haemophilus parainfluenzae NCTC 10665 Haemophilus influenzae NCTC 11931
Potassium Hydroxide Test	Positive control Negative control	Escherichia coli NCTC 10418 Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571
Changing the Phase of Salmonella	Positive control Negative control	N/A
Thermonuclease Test	Positive control Negative control	Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 6571 Staphylococcus haemolyticus NCTC 11042
Urease Test	Positive control Negative control	Proteus mirabilis NCTC 10975 Escherichia coli NCTC 10418
X and V factor Test	X and V factor	Haemophilus influenzae NCTC 11931
V factor only	Haemophilus parainfluenzae NCTC 10665
X factor only	Haemophilus haemoglobinophilus NCTC 8540*

Source: Public health England

Posted by Tim Sandle