Stability of working reagents for the Modified Rapid Fermentation Test (MRFT)

The Modified Rapid Fermentation Test (MRFT) for Neisseria gonorrhoeae has been shown to demonstrate the proper carbohydrate degradation for confirmation in less than 30 minutes. A new approach for using the reagents in the testing procedure has been established, making the MRFT a more practical tool in the laboratory. Instead of mixing reagents at the time of testing, previously prepared, labelled reagents were made in economic quantities and used according to the established procedure. These prepared reagents were stored at -70 C, -20 C, 4 C, and at room temperature (22-23 C). Stability was determined over a 6-month period by using a laboratory strain and fresh clinic strains of N. gonorrhoeae. The use of prepared reagents increases the efficiency of the confirmation approach, reduces the cost per test, and increases the uniformity of the individual tests.