You have been given a bottle labeled hydrogen peroxide to perform a catalase test. Your positive control is Staphylococcus aureus. Before you test your patient samples, you use the Staph to run a positive control. When the hydrogen peroxide is added, there is no bubbling. Your task is to determine what could have went wrong. Using your knowledge, what are some things you would check (2pts) and why (2pts)? Describe the chemical basis for the test (1 pt) and what type of organism is this test is meant for (1 pt)? Lastly, since you do not have any other way to perform the catalase test in the lab today, what alternative test or tests could you do to help identify this patients sample? Tell me which one(s) and why.
