[Automated technics in microbiological diagnosis compared with conventional methods].

Two different tools for automation in medical microbiological diagnosis were tested. The results of biochemical identification of bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were compared with conventional methods--biochemical identification with Minitek and API 20 E and susceptibility testing wih the nutrient agar diffusion test. Sceptor from Becton Dickinson is usable because of a good accordance with conventional methods and the good quality of the associated computer program (different types of statistical evaluation). The 'fully automated' MS 2 from Abbott has more limitations and is more expensive in material, but is able to give a diagnosis in few hours, if a pure culture is available. Differences to conventional methods are greater.