[Automatic reading of microtitration plates: identification of Enterobacteriaceae and determination of their minimal...

The authors evaluate an automatic microplate reader (Auto Reader Dynatech) and its application software. 291 strains of Enterobacteria belonging to 28 species were identified and 1,856 MIC were determined. The identifications made with the MIC 2000 tube were correct in terms of genus and species in 270 strains (92.8%) and in terms of genus in 274 strains (94.1%). The automated determination of the MIC was in complete agreement with visual reading in 90.6% of cases and with a deviation of +/- 1 dilution in 99.6% of cases. The programme was improved by the authors. This system is a new approach to automatization in microbiology.