What is "imvic"

The IMViC tests are a group of individual tests used in microbiology lab testing to identify an organism in the coliform group. A coliform is a gram negative, aerobic or facultative anaerobic rod which produces gas from lactose within 48 hours. The presence of some coliforms indicate fecal contamination.

The term "IMViC" is an acronym for each of these tests. "I" is for indole test; "M" is for methyl red test; "V" is for Voges-Proskauer test, and "C" is for citrate test. The lower case "i" is merely for "in", as the Citrate test requires coliform samples to be placed "in Citrate".

These tests are useful in distinguishing members of Enterobacteriaceae.