Abstract: A test for the detection of bacteria of the genuses Salmonella and Serratia and distinguishing them from the genuses Proteus and Providencia carried out in the presence of a diazonium salt and a synthetic enzymatic substrate in the form of an ester having an aliphatic chain of 7 to 10 carbon atoms. Two reactions may be effected in the same reactive medium. The test may be associated with other tests such as the .beta.-glucosidase, .beta.-galactosidase and .beta.-glucuronidase research tests making it possible to apply it simultaneously to the detection of bacteria belonging to other genuses: Kliebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia.

Abstract: A support and method for the determination of enzyme activity in a biological extract is provided wherein the support comprises a fibrous material impregnated with a substrate and a water-soluble pH stabilizer comprising a first reagent suitable for a pH of enzyme activity over 7 or a second reagent suitable for a pH of enzyme activity of 7 or less; the viscose fibers are sufficiently loose in texture so as to be accessible both to products in solution and to tissuey and cellular mash or whole cells and sufficiently fine to permit adsorption and uniform distribution of reagents over the area thereof.

Abstract: Rapid identification of different species of Streptococcus is accomplished by: culturing the bacteria for several hours under unusual conditions which induces the bacteria to create characteristic enzymes by which the bacteria can be identified, and in a medium containing no more than about 1 g of glucose per liter of culture medium to produce a dense culture; distributing the culture onto several supports containing different substrates which are capable of reacting with enzymes so produced by different species of Streptococcus under the unusual conditions; and incubating the culture to produce a distinctly colored or colorable reaction product.