Screening for MRSA colonisation is a routine task in the microbiology laboratory, with culture on chromogenic medium the standard method. The low prevalence (~1% in UK) of colonisation means much time is spent reading and reporting negative culture plates. Similarly, a large proportion of urine cultures yield no significant bacterial growth. As such, a large amount of scientist time is spent reporting negative samples.

The APAS Independence is an automated plate reader, which sorts plates and can report culture results directly to tie with LIMS. Negative plates are directed for discard, and positives plates directed for BMS review. The Health Services Laboratories evaluated the impact of APAS Independence for the screening of negative MRSA and urine chromogenic culture plates in their busy laboratory.

With the successful introduction of the APAS Independence into the laboratory's clinical service, the results demonstrate a 93% reduction on plates requiring a BMS review. Routine review of negative images demonstrate it maintains 100% negative predictive value.‍

Poster Presentation: Lincy Koshy, Health Services Laboratory

‍Conference: IBMS Congress 2022, Birmingham, UK

‍Date: March 2022

‍Authors: Koshy, L., Williams, A., Spratt, A. and Shina, A.

‍Citation: Koshy, L., Williams, A., Spratt, A. and Shina, A. 2022. Impact of an Automated Plate Reader for MRSA & Urine Chromogenic Culture Plates. IBMS Congress. Birmingham.