Urease is an enzyme that breaks the carbon-nitrogen bond of amides to form carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water. Members of genus Proteus are known to produce urease. Urease can be detected by plating bacteria onto an amide containing medium, specifically urea. When urea is broken down, ammonia is released and the pH of the medium increases (becomes more basic). This pH change is detected by a pH indicator that turns pink in a basic environment. A pink medium indicates a positive test for urease.
