Clinical comparison of the enterotube II and API 20E systems for bacterial identification.

The Enterotube II and API 20E were compared for their ability to identify clinical isolates of bacteria. They were found to have similar overall rates of correct identification. The Enterotube II possessed a lower requirement for extra tests in order to complete the identification, while the API system had fewer major errors. Both systems were found to be reliable and suitable for use in a clinical laboratory.