A RAPID TEST FOR THE PRESUMPTIVE IDENTIFICATION OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS

A novel rapid method for the identification of colonies of Clostridium perfringens (key iD Lab M Ltd. Bury, UK) was evaluated. The method co nsists of a test strip containing substrates for pre-formed enzymes se lected for optimum differentiation of C. perfringens from other clostr idia. One hundred and forty-six strains of clostridia were tested usin g the key iD strip. The strip successfully confirmed the identity of a ll 73 strains of C. perfringens tested, and differentiated these from 73 strains of 20 other clostridial species. C. absonum and C. baratii, species which are very similar to C. perfringens, could also be diffe rentiated by this method. The key iD strip is recommended for laborato ries as a rapid alternative to more conventional tests for presumptive identification of C. perfringens.