[The effect of resuscitation on the results obtained in identification of enterobacteriaceae by the API system...

During studies on the reliability of the API system, the question arose whether the small proportion of adequate results in cultures stored at 4 degrees C could be attributable to this method of storage. Therefore, the reactions of those cultures which had caused most problems were studied following periods of storage ofone day, six weeks and nine weeks at 4 degrees C, and in the freeze-dried state. Storage in particular conditions was found to have a definite effect on the reliability of the API system so that a period of resuscitation of forty-eight hours in a bouillon at 37 degrees C is required to restore the cultures to normal.