Coagulase is an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of a fibrin clot in plasma. The presence of coagulase can be detected by heavily inoculating the test organism into rabbit plasma and incubating the mixture for 4 to 24 hours. Any degree of clotting during this time, from a loose clot suspended in the plasma to a solid, immovable clot is a positive result. Staphylococcus aureus produces coagulase while Staphylococcus epidermidis does not.
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| 1. Negative Coagulase Test |
2. Positive Coagulase Test |
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