The generally accepted identifying characteristic of Staphylococcus aureus is the ability to produce free and bound coagulase (or clumping factor). The presence of clumping factor may be detected in a number of ways. The Oxoid Staphylase Test detects the presence of clumping factor through clumping of fibrinogen- sensitized sheep red blood cells. The specificity of the reaction is ensured by a simultaneous test with a control reagent (unsensitised sheep red blood cells), when of course no clumping reaction should be observed.

• Included in the kit is a test reagent consisting of rabbit fibrogen-sensitized sheep red blood cells, control reagent consisting of unsensitised sheep red blood cells, and disposable reaction cards
• Each kit contains sufficient reagent for 100 tests