Evaluation of the Enteric Analyzer, an instrument to aid in the identification of Enterobacteriaceae.

This study evaluated the Enteric Analyzer, an instrument designed to identify Enterobacteriaceae, with data obtained from the Modified r/b Enteric Differential System, other rapid identification systems, or conventional identification systems. It is programmed for 19 reactions with data obtained from Center for Disease Control publications. The instrument is very simple to use. Typical strains from 25 of 28 species were unequivocally identified. With the other three species, two choices were given. A switch allows the user to identify all species possibilities where a given biochemical pattern occurs in more than 1% of the strains or more than 10% of the strains. The instrument is useful both in the clinical laboratory and for teaching purposes.