Porphyrin test as an alternative to benzidine test for detecting cytochromes in catalase-negative gram-positive cocci

A total of 66 strains of gram-positive cocci, including 21 catalase-negative members of the family Streptococcaceae and strains of Stomatococcus mucilaginosus, were investigated for the ability to produce porphobilinogen and porphyrin from delta-aminolevulinic acid as an alternative to the benzidine test for detecting the presence of cytochromes. Production of porphobilinogen correlated 100% with membership in the family Micrococcaceae.