| abstract |
Method and apparatus for automated antibiotic susceptibility analysis of bacteria samples including a device for feeding in succession a plurality of different samples, each of a significant, unknown bacterium from a respective receptacle to plural respective ones of receiving receptacles in which the sample portions are treated or conditioned, and, in at least certain of the last-mentioned receptacles, the growth of bacteria is challenged by addition of different antibiotics respectively thereto. Samples are incubated and subsequently killed, bacteria from the respective and receiving receptacles are removed by sampling for counting and comparison indicating, with the use of a control, relative antibiotic susceptibility through the proliferation of the bacteria, and recording the results of the analysis. An individual, moveable probe is employed in each of the first mentioned receptacles for transfer therefrom of the respective sample to the plural aforementioned receiving ones of the receptacles and is then returned to the last-mentioned one of the receptacles, effectively reducing the risk of contamination between samples. Such probes may be expendable and disposed of with the remaining corresponding samples, or may be sterilized and reused. |