Comparison of three rapid methods, tributyrine, 4-methylumbelliferyl butyrate, and indoxyl acetate, for rapid identification of Moraxella catarrhalis.

Moraxella catarrhalis can easily be differentiated from other oxidase-positive, gram-negative cocci with tributyrine, 4-methylumbelliferyl butyrate, or indoxyl acetate. All M. catarrhalis give positive reactions, and all Neisseria spp. give negative reactions. The 4-methylumbelliferyl butyrate tube test and indoxyl acetate strip test provide same-day identification of M. catarrhalis isolates.