Bacteria are identified in laboratories by various methods, including microscopy ( fresh state, after staining ), observation of growth characteristics (list of culture media), determination of reactions to organic and inorganic compounds (API Gallery, Microbiological techniques) and molecular techniques.
The following figures illustrate decision algorithms to facilitate bacterial identification .
Identification of Gram positive bacilli
Identification of Gram-positive Cocci
Identification of positive ONPG Enterobacteriaceae
Identification of negative ONPG Enterobacteriaceae
