---
title: Citrate utilization test
description: "## About this test ### What is the purpose of the test?   The purpose is to see if the microbe can use the compound citrate as its sole source of carbon and energy for growth. ### How is citrate…"
url: "https://vumicro.com/docs/citrate-utilization-test/"
updated: "2022-11-01"
category: Reference Library / Biochemical tests
---

# Citrate utilization test

## About this test

### What is the purpose of the test?  

The purpose is to see if the microbe can use the compound citrate as its sole source of carbon and energy for growth.

### How is citrate use determined?  

If a microbe can use citrate for carbon and energy, it will grow on Simmons citrate agar. The use of citrate leads to a rise in pH of the medium, and a pH indicator changes color.

### What medium is used?  

The medium used is [Simmons citrate agar slant](https://vumicro.com/docs/simmons-citrate-agar-slant/). It contains mineral salts, sodium citrate for carbon, and ammonium phosphate for its nitrogen source. The pH indicator is brom thymol blue, which is green at neutral pH, yellow at acidic pH <6.0 and turns blue at alkaline (basic) pH >7.6.

### How is the test performed?  

An inoculum from a pure culture is transferred aseptically to a sterile tube of [Simmons citrate agar](https://vumicro.com/docs/simmons-citrate-agar-slant/). The inoculated tube is incubated at 35-37 C for 24 hours and the results are determined. Abundant growth on the slant and a change from green to blue in the medium indicates a positive test for growth using citrate.

### What reagents are added?  

None.

## Performing this test in the VUMIE Online lab

### Inoculation of Medium

1. Select the [Simmons’ citrate agar slant](https://vumicro.com/docs/simmons-citrate-agar-slant/) medium.  

2. Using an inoculating loop, complete the process of a [tube-to-tube aseptic transfer](https://vumicro.com/docs/perform-aseptic-transfers-tube-to-tube/) to inoculate the medium by streaking the slant.  You do not need to stab the butt of the tube. 

### Incubation of the Inoculated Medium

3. Place the inoculated tube into the 35-37 C incubator.  

4. Press the [New Day button](https://vumicro.com/docs/use-the-new-day-button/) to move forward 24 hours.

### Determination of Test Results

5. Incubate this test for only 24 hours.  

6. Retrieve the incubated culture from the incubator.

7. Observe test result. If the test was followed as described above, the sample will have changed to blue in the presence of alkali/bases (positive result). In negative tests, there is no growth.  

8. [Record test result](https://vumicro.com/docs/record-test-results/).  

[Uninoculated Simmon's Citrate agar slant](https://vumicro.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/greysnnnnn-2018_07_01-17_21_39-UTC.jpg)

[Positive Citrate Utilization](https://vumicro.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/bluysynnnn-2018_07_01-17_21_39-UTC.jpg)

[Negative Citrate Utilization](https://vumicro.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/greysnnnnn-2018_07_01-17_21_39-UTC.jpg)

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