Evaluation of the Micro-ID, the API 20E and the Rapid 20E for same-day identification of Enterobacteriaceae.

In a comparative study of three methods for same-day identification, the Rapid 20E identified 91.8% of 328 clinically isolated Enterobacteriaceae correctly to species level, 0.3% to genus level, 4.0% as part of a spectrum of identifications, and 4.0% incorrectly. Corresponding data for Micro-ID were 86.6%, 3.7%, 5.8%, 4.0%, and for same-day API 20E values were 72.6%, 7.3%, 13.4%, and 6.7%. Both Rapid 20E and Micro-ID provide accurate identification within four hours; same-day five-hour API 20E was less satisfactory.