[The glutamic acid decarboxylase disc test. An approach for the simplification and speeding up of E. coli detection]

Although E. coli is certainly one of the best known and most widely examined bacterial species only few of their characters and properties were found suitable for the distinction of this species from other species especially from the coliform organisms. One of these rare characters is l-glutamic acid decarboxylase. The demonstration of the action of this enzyme, however, has hitherto been difficult and time consuming. A micro-method is described which permits the demonstration of l-glutamic acid decarboxylase--the glutamic acid decarboxylase disc test (gd-disc-test). The conditions and procedures required are described in detail. The validation of this test was done demonstrating in presence of gamma-aminobutyric acid by paper chromatography.