This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kelly, M T Articles by Leicester, C Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kelly, M T Articles by Leicester, C

Evaluation of the Autoscan Walkaway system for rapid identification and susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli.

Microbiology Department, Metro-McNair Clinical Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

ABSTRACT

We evaluated the performance of the Autoscan Walkaway (W/A) system (MicroScan, Sacramento, Calif.) in conjunction with the fluorometric Neg Combo panels for rapid identification and susceptibility testing of gram-negative bacilli. Fermentative and nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli were tested in parallel with the W/A system and the Cathra Repliscan replicator (C/R) system (Cathra, St. Paul, Minn.). Conventional biochemical testing and agar dilution testing were used to resolve the identification and susceptibility testing discrepancies. Of 495 clinical isolates tested, 445 (90%) were correctly identified by the W/A system and 483 (98%) were correctly identified by the C/R system. Repeat testing by using updated versions of the W/A system's computer identification software failed to demonstrate improved identification accuracy. For susceptibility testing, the W/A system demonstrated 5.6% total interpretative category errors, including only 0.9% major and very major errors. The comparative C/R system produced only 1% errors overall, including 0.2% major and very major errors. Although the W/A system is highly automated and is capable of producing results rapidly, our findings suggest that additional identification and susceptibility testing refinements are needed before the system will be suitable for routine use.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Joyanes, P., del Carmen Conejo, M., Martinez-Martinez, L., Perea, E. J. (2001). Evaluation of the VITEK 2 System for the Identification and Susceptibility Testing of Three Species of Nonfermenting Gram-Negative Rods Frequently Isolated from Clinical Samples. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 3247-3253 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Leclercq, A., Lambert, B., Pierard, D., Mahillon, J. (2001). Particular Biochemical Profiles for Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 Isolates on the ID 32E System. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 1161-1164 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Rodríguez, L. A., Vivas, J., Gallardo, C. S., Acosta, F., Barbeyto, L., Real, F. (1999). Identification of Hafnia alvei with the MicroScan WalkAway System. J. Clin. Microbiol. 37: 4186-4188 [Abstract] [Full Text]