Biomerieux has launched a new version of ChromID MRSA chromogenic medium for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), designed for rapid routine screening.
ChromID MRSA is a ready-to-use chromogenic medium for the culture, isolation and identification of MRSA.
It offers direct identification of MRSA strains within 18 hours, and sensitivity is increased by a further seven per cent when flocked swabs are used for transportation, providing a good synergy with the Previ Isola automated plate streaker.
The characteristic colours of the colonies - pale blue-green at 18 hours' incubation and blue green to dark blue at 24 hours' incubation - make results easy to read.
The medium has been validated for use with Previ Isola, Vitek2 and API platforms.
With a maximum read time of 24 hours, compared with 48 hours for the previous version, the new version of ChromID agar has the potential to increase throughput significantly, Biomerieux said.
Daniel White, product manager at Biomerieux, said: 'Compared with traditional culture media, chromogenic media offer the laboratory an easier method of identifying bacteria through colour differentiation.
'The intensity and specificity of the colours produced make rapid, easy identification of bacterial colonies possible.'
