Skip to Content
Merck
All Photos(1)

Key Documents

07689

Millipore

O′Meara′s Reagent

suitable for microbiology

Synonym(s):

Voges-Proskauer test with O’Meara Reagent

Sign Into View Organizational & Contract Pricing


About This Item

UNSPSC Code:
41171621
NACRES:
NA.85

product line

BioChemika

Quality Level

shelf life

limited shelf life, expiry date on the label

composition

creatine, 0.3 g
dist. water, 100 mL
potassium hydroxide, 40 g

packaging

pkg of 100 mL

storage condition

(Tightly closed. Dry.)

technique(s)

microbe id | metabolite detection: suitable

application(s)

environmental
food and beverages

microbiology

suitability

Enterobacter spp.
Klebsiella spp.
Neisseria spp.
Pseudomonas spp.

General description

O′Meara′s Reagent is used in the Voges-Proskauer (VP) test for the detection of acetoin production by bacterial strains. VP test is helpful in identifying members of the family Enterobacteriaceae based on their ability to produce acetylmethylcarbinol (AMC = acetonin) from glucose. Acetoin is an intermediate which is oxidized by oxygen under alkaline conditions (KOH) to 2,3-Butanediol. With creatinine (break down product from creatine) and the enhancement of α-naphtol a red color is formed (Meisenheimer complex)

Application

The O′Meara reagent is a component of the Voges-Proskauer (VP) test, which is a commonly used laboratory technique in industrial microbiology to differentiate between bacterial strains based on their ability to produce acetylmethylcarbinol (AMC) from glucose. The VP test is often used as a tool to identify and authenticate bacterial strains in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.

Analysis Note

To perform the VP test, a bacterial sample is inoculated into a nutrient broth and incubated. The O′Meara reagent, which contains a mixture of creatinine and potassium hydroxide (KOH), is then added to the culture. Acetoin produced in the medium by bacterial culture is oxidized under alkaline conditions in the presence of air to form diacetyl which reacts with creatine to give a pinkish-red compound.

Pictograms

CorrosionExclamation mark

Signal Word

Danger

Hazard Statements

Hazard Classifications

Acute Tox. 4 Oral - Eye Dam. 1 - Met. Corr. 1 - Skin Corr. 1A

Storage Class Code

8B - Non-combustible corrosive hazardous materials

WGK

WGK 2

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

Choose from one of the most recent versions:

Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Lot/Batch Number

Don't see the Right Version?

If you require a particular version, you can look up a specific certificate by the Lot or Batch number.

Already Own This Product?

Find documentation for the products that you have recently purchased in the Document Library.

Visit the Document Library

Articles

There are many other methods of detection to indicate the presence of E. coli. Review common tests and biochemical reactions for this contaminant.

For microbiologists the most fundamental stain was developed in 1884 by the Danish bacteriologist Hans Christian Gram.

Our team of scientists has experience in all areas of research including Life Science, Material Science, Chemical Synthesis, Chromatography, Analytical and many others.

Contact Technical Service