The purpose of the catalase test is to examine whether the test organisms produce catalase or not. Catalase activity is very useful in differentiating between aerobic and obligate anaerobic bacteria. Some bacteria contain flavoproteins that reduce oxygen resulting in the production of hydrogen peroxide or superoxide. These compounds are extremely toxic since they are powerful oxidizing agents and rapidly destroy cellular components. Obligate aerobes and facultative anaerobes usually contains superoxide dismutase enzyme and either catalase or peroxidase to detoxify these oxygen products and protect themselves from being killing. The superoxide dismutase catalyzes the superoxide to hydrogen peroxide and oxygen while the peroxide or catalase breaks
