Identification · Urease test
Urea Broth Base – urease test in broth
Urea Broth Base is used to detect urease activity, an important step in the identification of Proteus, Klebsiella, Yersinia and other bacteria. Sterile urea solution is added to the base.
- Urease test in liquid form
- Used with sterile urea solution
- Clear colour change
How Urea Broth Base works
Urease splits urea into ammonia, which raises the pH. Phenol red then changes from yellow-orange to pink-red. The low buffer content makes the test sensitive.
Typical reactions
| Organism | Urease reaction |
| Proteus mirabilis | Positive – pink-red |
| Escherichia coli | Negative – no change |
Applications and practical notes
Electrolyte-deficient and chromogenic media are used for the culture and colony count of urine samples and for the differentiation of the common Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria found in them. Typical applications include:
- Colony count of urine samples
- Differentiation of urinary bacteria
- Prevention of Proteus swarming
- Microbiology laboratories
Working with Urea Broth Base: Add the urea solution only to the sterile, cooled base, because urea decomposes on heating.
Good practice with dehydrated media: keep the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dry place, weigh the powder quickly to avoid moisture uptake, and use fresh distilled or deionised water. Check the pH of each new batch after preparation and before use, and label prepared media with the date. Performance of each lot can be verified with reference strains according to ISO 11133, the standard for the preparation, production, storage and performance testing of culture media.
About general-purpose media: general-purpose media are not tied to one reference method. They are used in every laboratory for cultivation, revival of reference strains, purity checks and as bases for enriched and test media. Their performance is verified with reference strains according to ISO 11133, and media for susceptibility testing follow the requirements of EUCAST and CLSI. COLO.Science offers general media, enriched bases, supplements and QC strains from one source.
Complete sets from one supplier: COLO.Science supplies culture media, supplements, rapid tests, identification kits and QC strains as complete sets for the method you follow. Send us your sample types and standards, and we will prepare an offer with the matching products and documentation.
Urea Broth Base is supplied by COLO.Science in the pack sizes listed under Ordering information. For larger quantities, regular deliveries or method-specific sets that include Urea Broth Base, please send us a request. With every delivery of Urea Broth Base you receive the lot number and expiry date, and on request we send the available documentation for Urea Broth Base.
Where Urea Broth Base fits in general microbiology
- Sample preparation – Peptone Water, Phosphate Buffer and other diluents
- Cultivation and revival – Nutrient, BHI and Columbia media
- Fastidious organisms – blood, chocolate and GC media with supplements
- Testing and identification – Mueller Hinton for susceptibility, CLED and chromogenic agar for urine, biochemical tests
See all general-purpose media in the Microbiology Catalogue →
Ordering information
| Product | COLO code | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Urea Broth Base | PRO7518 | 500 g |
Product notice: preparation, storage conditions and shelf life are given on the label. Technical data on this page are for orientation; the label and the lot documentation apply. B2B prices are quoted net, excluding VAT.
Sales and technical support
COLO LabExperts
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Quotations and technical support for culture media and microbiology products across our international sales territory. B2B prices are net, excluding VAT.
COLO.SCIENCE | MICROBIOLOGY SUPPORT
Need the complete set for your method?
Send the sample type, target organism and the standard you follow. COLO.Science will put together the media, supplements, QC strains and confirmation tests for the whole procedure.
