Lecture 6-Automation in Microbiology

Automatic Gram Staining

• Few labs have it yet

• Good for high volume but also recommended for all

• Reproducible and reliable results

• Eliminates staff from being exposed to chemicals

• Eliminates time-consuming, cumbersome job of manual staining

• Increases number of slides that can be stained at one time

• Less reagent used; reduced waste

Bath type stainer

• slides dipped into a bath

  • Potential contamination?

  • Staff exposed to toxic chemicals?

Spray stainer

• Stains “sprayed” onto slide in a closed system

• Reduce potential for contamination

Examples of Automatic Gram stains machines

• Previ Color Gram

– 12-120 or 30-300 slides per hour

• AGS -1000

– Single slide

• Aerospray

• And more!

Automatic ID/MIC

• Continuous monitoring

• Results released as they are ready

• Rapid turn-around-time compared to overnight incubation

– Some results in 3 hours

• Link to Laboratory Information System

– Can be paperless

Vitek (example of machine that automatically ID orgs and put in ) and -MultiSample (MS) (1)

• • This is a system which is used for the ID of an organism.

• • Small cards for ID or Susceptibility testing (MIC).

• • In the video,the technologist is making a 0.5 Macfarland in N.saline, of the suspected organism

• This is the most recent development in thefield on microbial identification.

• It is based on the principle of using mass spectrometry.

• It is easy,rapid and reprodicuble.

• It is known as MALDI-TOF MS

• MALDI:Matrix-Assisted-Laser-Desorption-ionization

• TOF:-Time of Flight.

• MALDI TOF

(1)

MALDI-TOF Multisample

• This is the most recent development in the field on microbial identification.(identify moleculues in sample allowing id)

• It is based on the principle of using mass spectrometry.

• It is easy,rapid and reprodicuble.

have results in 12 hours

MALDI:Matrix-Assisted-Laser-Desorption-ionization

TOF:-Time of Flight.

Phoenix System

Automated identification and susceptibility system

Siemens Microscan Walkaway

• “panels” for identification and susceptibility testing

• Automatically adds reagents, prints reports

• 40 -96 panel capacity

Laboratory Information Systems

• In hospitals, specimens can arrive already ordered and in your system

– Accession number assigned

• Just check in (check info on specimen matches request)and process

• Some print labels and include bar codes

– Use labels to identify plates

• Technologist on bench scans the labels and “workcard” appears on the screen

• All workup recorded on the computer

• Results may be received from ID/MIC system (e.g. VITEK)

• Final reports may be printed or sent electronically

Automatic Plate Streaker

• not very common but exist

• It is used to plate samples on the media plate.

• Many samples can be plated at a time.

• It is fast,accurate and can give reproducible results

Automated media plate pourer

• If you remember we did it manually in the 2nd lab,but that can also be done automatically.

• Please see the video below