Methyl red is a commonly used indicator for acid-base titrations. This chemical is usually yellow but turns red below pH 4.0. Bacteria exhibiting mixed acids fermentation will accumulate acids in the medium, resulting in a color change. Approximately five drops of methyl red reagent are added to an overnight culture grown in MRVP broth to determine the test result.

Different bacteria convert dextrose and glucose to pyruvate using different metabolic pathways. Some of these pathways produce unstable acidic products which quickly convert to neutral compounds. Some organisms use the butylene glycol pathway, which produces neutral end products, including acetoin and 2,3-butanediol. Other organisms use the mixed acid pathway, which produces acidic end products such as lactic, acetic, and formic acid. These acidic end products are stable and will remain acidic.

The Methyl Red test involves adding the pH indicator methyl red to an inoculated tube of MR-VP broth. If the organism uses the mixed acid fermentation pathway and produces stable acidic end-products, the acids will overcome the buffers in the medium and produce an acidic environment in the medium. When methyl red is added, if acidic end products are present, the methyl red will stay red.