What does the Superoxol test rapidly test for?

The Superoxol test is a rapid test used specifically to identify Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium responsible for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. In this test, a colony of the organism is mixed with a hydrogen peroxide solution. Neisseria gonorrhoeae possesses the enzyme cytochrome oxidase, which catalyzes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, leading to rapid bubbling due to oxygen release. This reaction is a clear indicator of the presence of N. gonorrhoeae.

Other species of Neisseria and Moraxella catarrhalis do not yield the same positive result in the Superoxol test, making this test particularly useful in differentiating N. gonorrhoeae from other bacteria in diagnostic microbiology. This specificity allows clinical microbiologists to quickly confirm or rule out Neisseria gonorrhoeae as part of diagnosing a patient's condition.