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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2008, p. 1281-1284, Vol. 46, No. 4
0095-1137/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.01687-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Evaluation of an Automated Instrument for Inoculating and Spreading Samples onto Agar Plates{triangledown}

J. H. Glasson,1* L. H. Guthrie,2 D. J. Nielsen,1 and F. A. Bethell1

Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia,1 LabTech Systems Ltd., Kent Town, South Australia2

Received 24 August 2007/ Returned for modification 4 October 2007/ Accepted 6 February 2008

The findings from a preliminary assessment of a new instrument designed for the inoculation and spreading of specimens for microbiological analysis onto agar plates are described. The study found that the instrument was able to select full or biplates from a number of input cassettes, each containing different agar types. Samples were then inoculated by the instrument onto the agar surfaces and spread by a novel plastic applicator. Following this, the instrument labeled the plates and sorted them into a number of specified output stations. It was found that the instrument was able to inoculate and spread samples over a greater proportion of the agar plate surface than the manual loop-to-plate method. As a consequence, up to 44% more usable colonies were produced per plate from clinical specimens and standard cultures. Viable counts showed that the instrument was able to detect as few as 102 CFU/ml in fluids and also facilitated the enumeration of organisms, particularly in specimens such as urine.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Frome Road, Adelaide, South Australia 5000. Phone: 61 8 8222 3423. Fax: 61 8 8222 3538. E-mail: john.glasson{at}imvs.sa.gov.au

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 13 February 2008.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2008, p. 1281-1284, Vol. 46, No. 4
0095-1137/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.01687-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Bourbeau, P. P., Swartz, B. L. (2009). First Evaluation of the WASP, a New Automated Microbiology Plating Instrument. J. Clin. Microbiol. 47: 1101-1106 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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