Automated methods and systems for obtaining and preparing microbial samples for identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing

摘要

A method for determining and selecting the location of microbial colonies on a culture dish and performing a plurality of downstream tests (including tests to confirm the susceptibility of microorganisms to microbial identification tests and antibiotics) to the obtained samples, Lt; / RTI The method includes an automated step of determining and selecting the location of microbial colonies on the culture dish; An automated step of obtaining a sample of selected microbial colonies; And an automated step of immersing the preheating tool having the sample in the suspension to automatically prepare a suspension of the microbial sample, after which the preheating tool is at least oscillated in the vertical direction to release the sample from the preheating tool into the suspension . The turbidity of the suspension is monitored so that the suspension is sufficient to ensure microbial concentration in the suspension sufficient to be used as a sample source for the identification of the microorganisms in the sample and the antibiotic susceptibility test. The apparatus and system optionally enable the downstream treatment of samples prepared for antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). Such devices include further treatment after inoculation of the AST panel for AST testing. This additional processing involves delivering the capped and inoculated panels to the AST mechanism.