A multicenter evaluation of Copan's Colibrí™, an automated instrument for MALDI TOF MS target application for bacterial identification.

The Colibrí™ is a new instrument that automates picking and placement of colonies on target plates for MALDI identification. This study compared the performance of the Colibrí™ to standard manual spotting using the VITEK® MS for bacterial identification. Colonies were selected from cultures of urine, wound, respiratory, and positive blood cultures.

Comparison of 3 swab transport systems for direct release and recovery of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

The ability to directly release 5 aerobic and 5 anaerobic bacterial strains from 3 swab transport systems was evaluated by a time zero roll-plate method. The Copan ESwab (Copan Diagnostics, Murrieta, CA), a new nylon-flocked swab with Amies liquid medium, yielded greater organism release and recovered approximately 10-fold more microorganisms than the Becton Dickinson (Sparks, MD) CultureSwab MaxV and Remel (Lenexa, KS) BactiSwab.

Comparison of the Copan ESwab system with two Amies agar swab transport systems for maintenance of microorganism viability.

Swab transport systems are used for a variety of specimen types and must maintain organism viability throughout the transport process. The Copan ESwab is a new nylon-flocked swab designed to optimize specimen collection and to minimize entrapment of the specimen. We used the quantitative elution method with recommended strains, as described in CLSI document M40-A, to evaluate the ESwab for maintenance of viability of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms for 0, 6, 24, and 48 h during room temperature and refrigerated temperature storage.

Identification of interferon-beta antibodies in a reference laboratory setting: findings for 1144 consecutive sera.

Clinical studies demonstrate differences in interferon-beta (IFNbeta) antibody detection frequencies among multiple sclerosis patients receiving different IFNbeta products. We sought to determine if these differences are also found when IFNbeta antibodies are measured in a reference laboratory, where factors normally controlled in clinical studies are unknown. Serum IFNbeta binding antibodies (BAbs) were quantitated by ELISA; BAbs-positive samples were then tested in a bioassay for neutralizing antibodies (NAbs).

O1 and non-O1 Vibrio cholerae bacteremia produced by hemolytic strains.

Vibrio cholerae are Gram-negative bacteria capable of producing serious infections. They are differentiated into O1 and non-O1 serogroups, depending on their ability to agglutinate with specific antiserum. In contrast to non-O1 V.

Evaluation of 15 motility media and a direct microscopic method for detection of motility in enterococci.

Isolation of motile, vanC enterococci has yet to be a major infection control concern; however, rapid detection still is important. We evaluated 15 motility media from three manufacturers and a 2-h direct microscopic method for accurate detection of 89 enterococcal strains, including 72 vanC enterococcal strains. Resistance genes were confirmed by a multiplex PCR method with the vanC gene detected in all motile enterococci.