Evaluation of a ten-minute chromogenic substrate test for identification of pathogenicNeisseria species andBranhamella catarrhalis

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Abstract
A ten-minute chromogenic substrate test was evaluated for its ability to rapidly identify pathogenicNeisseria spp. andBranhamella catarrhalis. Identifications obtained with this system were compared to those obtained using conventional procedures. The test correctly identified 98.9% of 90Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 98.3% of 60Neisseria meningitidis, 96.2% of 26Neisseria lactamica, and 100% of 36Branhamella catarrhalis strains. EightNeisseria subflava strains that grew on modified Thayer-Martin agar were prolyl aminopeptidase positive and were misidentified asNeisseria gonorrhoeae. Other strains of saprophyticNeisseria spp. also reacted with the chromogenic substrates. The system was accurate and reliable for identifying the commonly encountered pathogenic species. In light of recent reports describing new species and atypicalNeisseria strains, however, careful attention to the salient features of both common and atypical organisms is necessary for proper use of rapid enzymatic identification tests.

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