Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing of gram-positive cocci using Baxter MicroScan rapid fluorogenic panels and autoSCAN-W/A.

The Microscan Rapid Pos MIC/Combo panels and autoSCAN-W/A (Walk Away) system utilize automated fluorescence technology for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing of staphylococci, streptococci, and Listeria. In a three site clinical study, panels containing 26 antimicrobial agents were evaluated by comparing results obtained with 605 clinically significant isolates, using rapid fluorogenic expanded dilution MIC panels and corresponding frozen microdilution reference panels. Results for 16%, 40%, 13%, 9%, 8%, 11% and 1% of the isolates were available within 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 7.0, 8, 11 and 15 h respectively. Results for 2% were not available within that time period. Overall agreement (+/- 1 dilution) for the 14,609 efficacy comparisons was 96%, with 1% each for very major, major and minor errors. Interlaboratory reproducibility testing of 25 isolates in triplicate in each site, showed an overall essential agreement of 97%. The MicroScan Rapid Pos MIC System is an accurate, reproducible and rapid method for same-day determination of susceptibility of Gram-positive cocci.