title: Evaluation of the RAPID ID 32A system for the identification of Bacteroides fragilis and related organisms.
abstract: This study evaluated the ability of a rapid identification system for anaerobic bacteria, ATB 32A, now renamed RAPID ID 32A (API-bioMérieux UK Ltd., Basingstoke), to identify accurately 74 strains of the 'B. fragilis group'. ATB 32A identified correctly 78.4% of strains to species level, without supplemental tests. The percentage of strains identified to species level rose to 94.6% when a supplementary test (advised by bioMérieux) for catalase production was used to differentiate between Bacteroides ovatus and Bacteroides uniformis. RAPID ID 32A is a rapid, accurate method for the identification of members of the 'B. fragilis group' isolated within a routine clinical laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hope Hospital, University of Manchester School of Medicine, Salford, UK.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Drucker
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Keaney
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ganguli
mesh_terms: D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors