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Routine evaluation of the nonradiometric BACTEC NR 660 system
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|July 1, 1986
Summary
The BACTEC NR 660 system offers faster detection times for blood cultures compared to conventional methods. This nonradiometric system is suitable for routine laboratory use, showing comparable overall isolate recovery.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Diagnostic Laboratory Science
Background:
- Blood culture systems are crucial for diagnosing bloodstream infections.
- Evaluating new technologies for improved diagnostic efficiency is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the sensitivity, accuracy, and practicability of the BACTEC NR 660 nonradiometric blood culture system against a standard laboratory system.
- To assess the performance of the BACTEC NR 660 system for routine clinical use.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 1,080 sets of four blood culture bottles.
- Analysis of positive aerobic and anaerobic medium associations.
- Comparison of isolate recovery and detection times between the conventional and BACTEC NR 660 systems.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in the total number of isolates recovered between the two systems (P > 0.05).
- The BACTEC NR 660 system showed a significantly shorter mean detection time (31.6 h vs. 55.9 h; P < 0.001).
- Slightly lower recovery of *Serratia marcescens* and *Streptococcus faecalis*, but higher recovery of *Pneumococcus* spp. with the BACTEC NR 660 system.
Conclusions:
- The BACTEC NR 660 system demonstrates comparable isolate recovery to conventional methods.
- The BACTEC NR 660 system significantly reduces blood culture detection times.
- The BACTEC NR 660 system is a viable and suitable option for routine blood culture diagnostics.