Lack of precision in commercial identification systems: correction using Bayesian analysis

摘要

Commercial microbial identification systems rank the relative likelihood of species identity on the basis ofin vitroreactions only. Failure to consider the prevalence of individual taxa results in a spurious demotion of common species; and a tendency toward over reporting of rare microbes. The incorporation of Bayesian analysis into identification matrices can provide for a realistic ranking of bacterial species which fulfil given biocode schemes. and accepted 22 June 1989