What is durham tube?

Durham tubes are small, inverted test tubes used in microbiology to detect gas production by microorganisms during fermentation. When a microorganism produces gas as a byproduct of fermentation, the gas collects in the Durham tube, causing it to rise and create a gas bubble within the tube.

Durham tubes are typically placed inverted in a test tube containing a liquid medium that supports the growth of the microorganism being tested. As the microorganism ferments sugars in the medium, gas is produced, and if gas production occurs, it can be easily observed in the Durham tube.

Durham tubes are commonly used in various laboratory tests, such as the IMViC test for the identification of Enterobacteriaceae. They are a simple and effective tool for detecting gas production by microorganisms and are a valuable tool in identifying and characterizing different microorganisms based on their metabolic capabilities.