Nitrate Disk

Determine nitrate reduction by anaerobic bacteria using Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ Nitrate Disks. In 1977, Widemann et al. utilized a nitrate disk for the detection of nitrate reductase production¹. They reported it to be 89% comparable to the more conventional and time-consuming indole nitrate medium assay. Filter paper disks impregnated with potassium nitrate are recommended for presumptive testing of anaerobes^2,3.

Determine nitrate reduction by anaerobic bacteria using Nitrate Disks.

• Ready to use: Reagent-impregnated disk.
• Rapid test: Results are obtained within 3-5 minutes.
• Easy to identify: A positive reaction showcases a development of red color after addition of Anaerobic Nitrate Reagent A and B and no color change after addition of zinc dust while in a negative reaction there is no color change post addition of reagent but changes to red after addition of zinc dust.

Organisms that possess nitrate reductase can reduce nitrate to nitrite. Nitrate serves as a source of nitrogen for many bacteria. Molybdate is reported to stimulate synthesis of nitrate reductase⁴. The first step to nitrate utilization is reduction to nitrite by the removal of one oxygen molecule. Nitrite combines with sulfanilic acid and amino-2-naphthaline to form a red colored end product. Certain organisms can further reduce nitrite to nitrogen, yielding a colorless result. An additional test for the presence of unreacted nitrate must be performed to validate the colorless result. Zinc dust catalyzes the reaction of nitrate to nitrite. Therefore, when zinc dust is added, a red color indicates the presence of unreacted nitrate.

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Remel™ and Oxoid™ products are now part of the Thermo Scientific brand.