Overview Agar plate showing different types of hemolysis. the type of hemolysis present can be used to classify the bacteria Alpha hemolysis dark and greenish "partial" hemolysis bacteria include Streptococcus pneumoniae login to view 1 more bullet Viridans group streptococci login to view 1 more bullet Beta hemolysis transparent "complete" hemolysis bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep) Streptococcus agalactiae (group B strep) Listeria monocytogenes Gamma hemolysis unchanged "no hemolysis" bacteria include Enterococcus faecalis (group D strep) login to view 1 more bullet Notice that hemolysis is generally used to distinguish strains of Streptococcus, but that Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria also have characteristic hemolytic properties