Abstract
The effect of microwave irradiation on the metabolism of 94 strains of Enterobacteriaceae was studied. Sixteen substrates were used and the results obtained with microwave irradiation were compared with those given by conventional biochemical tests. There was good correlation between the methods but not sufficient to enable accurate identification of unknown species. However, microwave irradiation considerably increased the enzymatic activity of bacterial suspensions and the results obtained could form the basis for a rapid method of microbial identification.