Acetamide Utilization Test: Principle, Procedure and Interpretation

Principle:

This test is used to determine the ability of an organism to use acetamide as the sole source of carbon. Bacteria that can grow on this medium deaminate acetamide to release ammonia. The production of ammonia results in a pH- driven color change of the medium from green to royal blue.

Method:

1. Inoculate acetamide slant lightly with a needle using growth from an 18-24 hour culture.
2. Do not inoculate from a broth culture, because the growth will be too heavy.

Result and Interpretation:

Positive: Deamination of the acetamide resulting in a blue color

Negative: No color change