CAMP test

CAMP test is a laboratory procedure used in microbiology to identify certain bacteria based on their physiological interactions with other species. The test is named after the co-hemolytic (CAMP) effect, which is an augmentation of the hemolysis of red blood cells around a bacterial colony when it is grown in the presence of another bacterial species.

History

The CAMP test was first described in 1944 by American microbiologists C. Lancefield and M. Freimer. The name "CAMP" is an acronym derived from the initials of the four bacteria originally used in the test: Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus), Staphylococcus aureus, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis.

Procedure

The CAMP test is performed by streaking a bacterial culture perpendicular to a streak of Staphylococcus aureus on a blood agar plate. After incubation, the plate is examined for enhanced hemolysis in the area where the two streaks intersect. A positive CAMP test is indicated by an arrowhead-shaped area of hemolysis pointing towards the streak of Staphylococcus aureus.

Significance

The CAMP test is primarily used to identify Streptococcus agalactiae, which is a significant cause of neonatal infections. The test can also be used to differentiate between different species of Listeria and Enterococcus.

Limitations

While the CAMP test is a useful tool in the identification of certain bacteria, it is not infallible. Some strains of Streptococcus agalactiae do not produce a positive CAMP reaction, and other bacteria, such as Bacillus cereus, can produce a false positive result.

See also

• Blood agar
• Hemolysis (microbiology)
• Streptococcus agalactiae
• Staphylococcus aureus

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