Hydrogen peroxide 3%, (H2O2), catalase positive organisms (such as Staphylococcus) will evolve gas bubbles in the presence of H2O2.

Useful in the presumptive identification and differentiation of many bacteria. Beta-hemolytic organisms, such as Streptococcus species (catalase-negative), Staphylococcus species (catalase-positive), and Listeria species (catalase-positive) can be differentiated by their catalase reaction.