Coagulase Test

In coagulase the bacterial enzyme reacts with a cofactor found in blood plasma to catalyze the formation of fibrin from fibrinogen. Coagulase reacts with prothrombin in the blood. The resulting complex is called staphylothrombin, which enables the enzyme protease to convert fibrinogen, a plasma protein produced by the liver, to fibrin. This results in clotting of the blood. Coagulase is tightly bound to the surface of the bacterium S. aureus and can coat its surface with fibrin upon contact with blood.

The coagulase test has traditionally been used to differentiate Staphylococcus aureus from coagulase-negative staphylococci. S.aureus produces two forms of coagulase (bound coagulase and free coagulase). Bound coagulase, otherwise known as "clumping factor", can be detected by carrying out a slide coagulase test, and free coagulase can be detected using a tube coagulase test.

Related Journals of Coagulase Test

Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Applied Microbiology: open access, Cellular Microbiology, Open Microbiology Journal, Molecular Microbiology, Journal of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology.