title: Numerical identification of bacteria with a hand-held calculator as an alternative to code books.
abstract: The Hewlett-Packard HP 41C hand-held calculator can be used for the numerical identification of bacteria. The dimensions of the identification matrix are limited to about 30 by 22; however, many groups of clinically important bacteria can be numerically identified by this method. Hand-held calculators can be used as an alternative to code books. At present, these calculators and additional tests can help solve identification problems in profiles not contained in code books.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003201:Computers