ANDRADE LACTOSE PEPTONE WATER

Bacteria differ widely in their ability to metabolize carbohydrates and related compounds. Lactose fermentation is one of the important biochemical reaction of Enterobacteriaceae differentiating lactose fermentors from non-lactose fermenters. Andrade Lactose Peptone water can be used to identify Enterobacteriaceae on this basis for their ability to ferment lactose. If the test organism metabolizes the lactose, acids are produced thereby lowering the pH of the medium. This causes subsequent colour change of the indicator acid fuchsin, from colourless to pink to red. If the carbohydrate is not metabolized, the medium remains pale to straw coloured.

to study fermentation reactions of members of the Enterobacteiaceae