Kovac’s reagent for indoles
SIAL/60983 - suitable for microbiology
Synonym: 4-
CAS Number: 100-10-7
Empirical Formula (Hill Notation): C9H11NO
Molecular Weight: 149.19
MDL Number: MFCD00003381
Linear Formula: C9H11NO
Product Type: Chemical
| application(s) | agriculture clinical testing environmental food and beverages |
| microbiology | |
| composition | 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehy |
| hydrochloric acid | |
| n-butanol | |
| InChI | 1S/C9H11NO/c1-10(2)9-5-3- |
| InChI key | BGNGWHSBYQYVRX-UHFFFAOYSA |
| Quality Level | 100 ![]() |
| refractive index | n |
| shelf life | limited shelf life, expiry date on the label |
| SMILES string | [H]C(=O)c1ccc(cc1)N(C)C |
| storage temp. | 2-8°C |
| suitability | Escherichia coli |
| coliforms | |
| technique(s) | microbe id | specific enzyme detection: suitable |
| Application: | Kovac′s reagent for indoles has been used for enumerating E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef samples in different scenarios of stored, thawed, and as cooked patty samples. It has also been used for E coli enumeration in dewatered blackwater. |
| Biochem/physiol Actions: | Kovac′s reagent detects the indole and aids in identifying the indole-positive and indole-negative microorganisms. E. coli can split tryptophan into indole and α-aminopropionic acid in the presence of the enzyme tryptophanase. p-Aminobenzaldehyde present in the reagent reacts with indole to form a cherry-red complex, that is soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. It is recommended to use glucose free media and peptone with a high tryptophan content for the test. |
| General description: | Kovac′s reagent for indoles is a solution of 4-(dimethylamino)benzalde |
| Symbol | ![]() ![]() GHS02,GHS05,GHS07 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H226 - H290 - H302 - H315 - H318 - H335 - H336 |
| Precautionary statements | P210 - P233 - P280 - P301 + P312 - P303 + P361 + P353 - P305 + P351 + P338 |
| Hazard Codes | Xn |
| Risk Statements | 10-22-37/38-41-67 |
| Safety Statements | 26-39 |
| RIDADR | UN 2920 3(8) / PGII |
| WGK Germany | WGK 1 |
| Flash Point(F) | 96.8 °F |
| Flash Point(C) | 36 °C |
| Refractive Index | n |
| Storage Temp. | 2-8°C |
| UNSPSC | 41171621 |




