The microbial processes of denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium are two important nitrate reducing mechanisms in soil. Anaerobes found in soil and sediments are involved in these processes. Several methods are available to detect nitrate reduction2. Indole nitrate medium is an aid in the identification of a wide variety of microorganisms.Ready to use:Convenience of a prepared reagent.Ease of Differentiation: Positive test indicates red color development after addition of reagents; and no color development after addition of zinc dust. Negative test indicates no color development after addition of reagents and red color development after addition of zinc dust.Rapid Results: Within 10 minutes.Dual Purpose: Developed to serve the dual purpose of detecting indole production and nitrate reduction.Certain bacteria convert nitrate to nitrite, ammonia, or gas. This process is denitrification. Presence of nitrite is determined by the addition of sulfanilic acid which reacts with the nitrite to form a diazonium salt. 5-amino-2-naphthalene sulfonic acid then couples with the salt, resulting in a red dye complex. However, if the organism converted nitrite to ammonia or nitrogen gas, no nitrate remains to react with the sulfanilic acid; therefore, zinc dust must be added. Zinc reduces nitrate to nitrite, resulting in a red color. The red color indicates that nitrate is still present and was not previously reduced. An absence of red color after the addition of zinc dust indicates that no nitrate was reduced further than nitrite3.Not all products are available for sale in all territories. Please inquire.Remel™ and Oxoid™ products are now part of the Thermo Scientific brand.