Used in microbiology to perform the Voges-Proskauer test, which detects the production of acetylmethylcarbinol (acetoin) from glucose fermentation in bacteria. This test helps differentiate members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, particularly in identifying organisms like Enterobacter and Klebsiella, which produce a positive result, versus Salmonella and Shigella, which are typically negative. The kit provides reagents necessary for the reaction—usually alpha-naphthol and potassium hydroxide—added to a bacterial culture grown in glucose-containing broth. A pink to red color development indicates a positive test, supporting identification and classification of bacterial species in clinical and research laboratories.