Beckman Coulter Diagnostics Highlights Automation and Workflow Benefits of its MicroScan Microbiology Solutions at ECCMID 2016

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics will highlight the performance and automation solutions delivered by its MicroScan microbiology systems at this year’s European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (9-12 April).

Alongside the workflow improvements delivered by MicroScan, and demonstrated at booth #52, experts will also examine the benefits of detection accuracy as laboratories worldwide face the growing resistance to antibiotics. ‘Emerging Resistance and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing’ is the theme of one of Beckman Coulter’s 2016 ECCMID microbiology symposia. It will examine the central role of susceptibility testing and the determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in today’s increasingly automated laboratory.

The MicroScan microbiology systems fit any volume and level of identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing requirements (ID/AST) with speed and accuracy. Direct MIC technology based on growth ensures accurate AST results when detecting emerging resistance. Beckman Coulter’s MicroScan systems offer a choice in panel formats, setup and speed. In addition to processing and reading panels manually, there is an option to automate with the MicroScan WalkAway System and improve workflow.

As Barbara Zimmer Ph.D., Beckman Coulter’s microbiology principal scientist, explained: “The microbiology laboratory is at the forefront of appropriate and accurate detection of resistance in bacteria. MicroScan panels, instruments and software connectivity systems allow the microbiologist to more easily obtain and give accurate susceptibility results to clinicians for their patients.”

The MicroScan WALKAWAY plus SYSTEM delivers automated bacterial identification and susceptibility testing. Its accurate MIC reading is able to detect emerging resistance as it occurs, providing accurate results without reliance on historical data or virtual MIC. It supports high-volume testing when paired with the Bruker MALDI Biotyper System.

Bruker MALDI^® Biotyper System features the highly accurate MALDI-TOF technology, applicable to a wide range of microorganisms. Faster than traditional methods, this is a compact, ergonomic and environmentally friendly system. When combined with MicroScan MIC panels, the system offers optimum combination of accuracy and speed.

MicroScan autoSCAN-4 SYSTEM is a semi-automated reader designed for lower volume testing.

Capturing the results of MicroScan analysis with Beckman Coulter's LabPro Information Manager and LabPro Connect helps clinical labs share data for epidemiology studies to identify trends in pathogen resistance and to better track the spread of such infections.

HighFlexX Middleware completes the portfolio. It delivers fast and accurate result traceability and reporting, enhancing workflow. The middleware seamlessly integrates the accurate AST results of the MicroScan WalkAway plus System with the rapid identification of the MALDI-TOF technology. It integrates easily into the existing IT structure of the laboratory, streamlining the information flow from various analyzers and can be serviced remotely with a secure VPN connection.

The ‘Emerging Resistance and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing’ Symposium: 11 April 2016 | 16:00 – 18:00 Hall B Chairs: Barbara L. Zimmer, Ph.D., Beckman Coulter Inc., Sacramento, California, USA. and Rafael Canton, M.D., Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid. Spain.

Emerging antibiotic resistance and their detection Pr. Patrice Nordmann, Fribourg, Switzerland MICs, ECOFFs and the impact of uncertainty (of measurement) on clinical practice Pr. John D. Turnidge, Sydney, Australia Importance of MIC for PKPD analysis and therapeutic consequences against pathogens with decreased susceptibility Pr. Bruno Fantin, Clichy, France What is the impact of MIC availability on clinical care? A French ‘from bench to bedside’ experience Dr. Jean-Winoc Decousser, Creteil, France