Hardy Diagnostics Nitrocef Matchbook sticks are intended for use in the rapid testing of isolated colonies of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis, Staphylococcus spp., Haemophilus influenzae, Enterococcus spp., and some anaerobic bacteria for the production of beta-lactamase
The rapid Nitrocef test consists of a paper match-stick that is impregnated with the Nitrocefin reagent, which is a chromogenic cephalosporin
This rapid test can yield clinically relevant information earlier than an MIC test
A positive -lactamase test can predict resistance to such antibiotics as penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, and other -lactamase containing drugs
Results in 5 minutes or less, with the exception of some Staphylococcus spp; that may take up to one hour
The -lactamase test is preferred to disk diffusion and agar dilution for the detection of plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase resistance in gonococci
