Oxoid has introduced the RapID range of microbial identification kits, which can identify a range of micro-organisms in just four hours.
In trials, the RapID method performed well when identifying oxidase negative Enterobacteriaceae, anaerobic bacteria, Gram-negative glucose non-fermenters, Corynebacterium species, yeasts and related organisms and streptococci and related organisms.
A new system is now available for identifying staphylococci and related organisms.
In comparative evaluations, RapID performed better than other leading commercially available systems, particularly in the identification of clinically significant yeasts and non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli, including Burkholderia cepacia, an important pathogen in cystic fibrosis patients.
The significance of this accuracy was highlighted in a study where RapID Yeast Plus performed better than other systems when identifying Candida krusei, an important pathogen of immuno-compromised patients.
Since this organism has an innate resistance to fluconazole, prompt identification is important for appropriate therapy to be administered quickly.
The RapID systems provide rapid, same-day results, while similar methods require 18-72 hours.
Because they are non-automated, smaller routine microbiology laboratories can adopt this method easily.
In one study the investigators concluded that the RapID method has the potential to save time, labour and money.
In another study the authors noted that the RapID method detects pre-formed bacterial enzymes and is not dependent on the growth of the organism.
This feature allows the panels to be incubated aerobically without the need for oil overlays - resulting in further time and resource savings.
Unlike alternative methods that require separate inoculation of individual wells, RapID identification panels have a simple, one-step inoculation procedure.
A suspect colony suspension is simply added to the inoculation tray and tipped into the test strip, inoculating each well simultaneously.
Each RapID panel has the same simple procedure, allowing users to pick up the method easily without having to remember different procedures for different organism groups.
The visible colour reactions are easy to read.
The user-friendly Windows-based ERIC software features nine databases for accurate and reliable results ranked by probability.
A probability of >95 per cent is necessary for species level identification to be made, ensuring incorrect identifications are minimised.
