LEAD ACETATE PAPER STRIPS*

Description

The lead acetate procedure is more sensitive than any other method for detecting H2S production. It detects even traces of H2S. H2S is a colourless gas which on contact with lead acetate produces lead sulphide, a black precipitate, indicated by a visible black coloured reaction on the Lead acetate paper strip. Lead Acetate Paper strips are sterile filter paper strips impregnated with lead acetate reagent. Certain organisms are capable of enzymatically liberating sulphur from sulphur containing aminoacids or inorganic sulphur compounds. Hydrogen sulphide can be produced in small amounts from sulphur containing amino acids like Cysteine by a large number of bacteria in a carbohydrate media. This test is used mainly for identification and differentiation of organisms like Salmonella species.