ABSTRACT
The careful selection of biochemical tests, development of extensive databases, and the objective measurement of test reactions with automated readers have ushered in a new generation of instruments capable of identifying microorganisms after a few hours of incubation. The rapid identifications of organisms is compatible with rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The Vitek®system was one of the first truly automated identifications systems in microbiology. The inoculum for the Vitek®system is prepared from either a nonselective or selective agar medium. The Vitek®system gram-negative identification tests have undergone extensive modifications since they were first introduced. The Vitek®system is the only system that can be used for identification of gram-positive bacteria; the Vitek®and Avantage systems, but not the Autobac®system, can be used to identify yeasts. The biochemical tests offered in the three systems are extensive, with traditional tests incorporated in the Vitek®and Avantage systems and a novel series of reagents selected to inhibit microbial growth in the Autobac®system.
