Bacterial Identification Tests: Indole Test 

Indole test is the routinely used biochemical test to detect the ability of bacteria to degrade the amino acid tryptophan and produce indole.
Some bacteria metabolise amino acid tryptophan into Indole, pyruvic acid and Ammonia using the enzyme called as Tryptophanase. Indole is detected with Kovac’s reagent. Indole reacts with the aldehyde in the reagent to give a red color ring at the top.
Indole Test is also the part of the IMViC tests, that are commonly used for the differentiation of members of family Enterobacteriaceae.
Tryptophanase enzyme model: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
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