Evaluation of a test kit for identification of anaerobic bacteria.

A test kit for identification of anaerobic bacteria--API--has been compared for accuracy in individual tests and for identification on the genus or species level with pre-reduced anaerobically sterilized media methods on 241 anaerobic strains. The microsystem was found to be reliable and permits identification of the clinically most significance anaerobic bacteria if it is supplemented with other tests such as gaschromatographic analysis, morphology, lecithinase, lipase and antibiotic sensitivity pattern.