It is important to consider that commercial identification systems may misidentify the bioterrorism threat agents. There is an increased risk of incorrect identification for organisms that are:
- Slow growing
- Fastidious
- Limited in the number of strains available in the database
- Biochemically inert
It is also important to note that automated systems can create aerosols, which increases the possibility of laboratory exposure to these pathogens.
The LRN Sentinel Level Clinical Laboratory Testing Protocols are to be utilized for meeting the primary objective of “rule out or refer.”
Do NOT use automated or kit-based automated systems for identification and susceptibility testing if you see any of the following characteristics:
- No growth on MacConkey agar for a gram-negative rod
- Slow growing, fastidious, tiny, gram-negative rods
