Screening for Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can account for a significant number of samples in clinical microbiology laboratories. Similarly, urine cultures are one of the frequent samples in clinical microbiology laboratories. The APAS Independence automated plate assessment solution for automated culture plate reading could help to free up critical resources in the lab.

The LADR Zentrallabor Dr. Kramer & Kollegen (LADR Central laboratory Dr. Kramer &Colleagues), a private physician run and owned laboratory in Geesthacht, Germany presented their evaluation of the APAS technology for both Infection Control (MRSA and VRE screening) and Urine screening applications at DGHM 2022 in Berlin.

For Infection Control, the laboratory compared the performance of the APAS Independence to a panel of experienced technicians (manual plate reading) across a total of 816 samples (102 VRE samples and 714 MRSA samples). The study demonstrated the APAS Independence delivered no false negative results across the sample range and was able to securely identify positive VRE and MRSA screening cultures which has the potential to increase resources by freeing technician's time.

Similarly, the APAS Independence was compared to manual plate reading for the reading and interpretation of urine cultures. A total of 382 randomly selected samples, selected on different days/weeks were read, with the first reading at 18 hours. The study demonstrated APAS Independence successfully identified and sorted relevant urine samples. Using APAS Independence for removing negative and non-significant urine cultures resulted in 51.9% reduction in manual review.‍

Poster & Oral Presentation: LADR Central Laboratory Dr. Kramer & Colleagues, Geesthacht, Germany

‍Conference: DGHM 2022, Berlin

‍Date: September 2022

‍Authors: Kramer, T.S., Plate, S., Aldaher, M., Koch, W., Zimmermann, D. and Sobottka, I.

‍Citation: Kramer, T.S., Plate, S., Aldaher, M., Koch, W., Zimmermann, D. and Sobottka, I. 2022. Comparison of the automated plate assessment system (APAS) to manual plate reading of surveillance screening cultures - a diagnostic study. DGHM 2022. Berlin.