System Allows Labs to Quickly Characterize Bacteria

A microbial characterization system provides an automated genetic fingerprint of any bacterium in less than eight hours.

Called RiboPrinter, the system's patterns allows laboratorians to characterize spoilage organisms, pathogens, beneficial organisms, or any bacterium. The ever-expanding identification database now includes more than 5,700 patterns, covering more than 180 genera and 1,200 species. The RiboPrinter data-sharing system allows authorized users to electronically share databases of bacterial strains, enabling labs to quickly and easily compare, analyze, and automatically store genetic fingerprint information.

Features of this networking system offer a wide range of data-pooling possibilities. Universities and hospitals can give many analysts access to data generated by one instrument. A central quality control laboratory can compile and analyze data from remote plants or labs. Regulatory agencies can collect and analyze data from numerous sites to monitor the spread of bacteria, while service labs can rapidly share data with authorized customers. Information sharing is secure because only data with unique host-assigned tags can be copied. The DuPont RiboPrinter is now available from Oxoid Ltd. (Basingstoke, UK) in Europe and Australia.




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