[Numerical identification of aquatic microorganisms using automated methods; for example, identification of bacteria from activated sludge].

A probability matrix for numerical identification of aquatic microorganisms was constructed using 90 miniaturized biochemical tests. More than 2000 reference strains originated from different culture collections and environmental strains identified by conventional methods were included in this matrix. All test result can be read visually and by photometer (automatically). First applications of this system on aerobic and facultative anaerobic heterotrophic organisms from activated sludge revealed the advantage of this system compared to conventional methods and delivered further a detailed description of the activated sludge community.