Conventional typing methods.

Clinical microbiologists normally identify important isolates to the level of species and determine their susceptibility to antibiotics. These activities generate a species identification and provide some differentiation below the level of species in the form of a biotype and an antibiogram. Most other typing methods should be reserved for special studies or to investigate possible infection problems or outbreaks. Specialized techniques should usually be done in reference laboratories. These include serotyping, (complete antigenic analysis), bacteriophage susceptibility, and bacteriocin production or susceptibility.