I have used the Crystal System for microbial identification in the
pharmaceutical microbiology lab with very good success. You may find that
you need to use some additional media to complete the identification of some
organisms. This is factored into the system. The computer identification
key is also very good. When I last checked, they were working on an
automated reader, which would take the subjectiveness out of the color
determinations. If you read the literature, you will find that the system
is equivalent or better than API when it comes to identifications. As far
as inoculation goes, it beats API by a mile.
References:
BBL Crystal ID ASM Abstracts (1994) Presented at ASM Annual Meeting, Las
Vegas, NV, pp. 1-22.
Wauters, G. et al. (1995) "Evaluation of a New Identification System,
Crystal Enteric/Non-Fermenter, for Gram-Negative Bacilli", J. Clin.
Microbiol., Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 845-849.
Robinson, A. et al. (1995) "Comparison of Crystal Enteric/Nonfermenter
System, API 20E System, and Vitek Automicrobic System for Identification of
Gram-Negative Bacilli", J. Clin. Microbiol., Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 364-370.
Holmes, B. et al. (1994) "Evaluation of Two BBL Crystal Systems for
Identification of Some Clinically Important Gram-Negative Bacteria", J.
Clin. Microbiol., Vol. 32, No. 9, pp. 2221-2224.
Daly, J.A. et al. (1995) "Evaluation of the BBL Crystal Anaerobe System for
the Identification of Clinical Anaerobic Isolates", Presented at the 95th
General Meeting of the ASM, Washington, DC, pp. 1-5.
McTeague, M. et al. (1995) "Evaluation of BBL Crystal Anaerobe
Identification for the Identification of Anaerobic Bacteria", Presented at
the 95th General Meeting of the ASM, Washington, DC, pp. 1-6.
Bob Friedel
Quality Assurance Manager
Perritt Laboratories
http://www.perritt.comrfriedel at perrittlab.com
Paul and Kimberly Liska <pliska at istar.ca> wrote in message
news:gQ3f5.4185$Lg1.75918 at cac1.rdr.news.psi.ca...
> Hello:
>> I am wondering if anyone can give me their thoughts on the Crystal Id
System
> from BBL. I have used different Id Systems such as BIOLOG, Enterotube,
etc.
> If anyone uses the Crystal system, please let me know your comments on the
> Identification of unknown bacteria. Thank you.
>> --
>>>
