Background
A Catalase test is useful for the identification of many different bacteria. Since Streptococcus and Enterococcus spp. lack the enzyme to catalyse hydrogen peroxide, and all Staphylococci possess it, 3% Catalase is used to separate these genera Also, Listeria monocytogenes, which is catalase positive can be differentiated from beta-haemolytic Streptococci. Most Neisseria spp. are catalase positive.
Yeast such as Cryptococcus neoformans is catalase positive and can be presumptively identified using the catalase test.
Material Safety Data Sheet (En)
