The GC technique described here, including the extraction technique, the co
lumn selection, and operating conditions, has been modified to provide a sp
ecific and simple tool for the identification and confirmation of Pectinatu
s and Megasphaera spp. The method can be used to identify these organisms f
rom a culture grown in broth media or in beer. It is also capable of confir
ming the identity of these organisms from mixed cultures.