BioConnections

A busy time for BioConnections; both our broth microdilution products and carbapenemase identification kits are very topical and successful.

Our range of broth microdilution (BMD) products are currently being validated at PHE AMRHAI and will be the basis of future susceptibility testing there. One of our BMD products, the colistin MIC strip, gave the highest EA in a EUCAST evaluation of commercial products and has been widely adopted throughout the UK.

RESIST, a 15-minute lateral flow carbapenemase identification test, has been shown to match leading molecular assays at one-third of the reagent cost and has no requirement for equipment. RESIST –4 OKNV identifies the four carbapenemases that account for 98% of referred isolates.

In the 2018 AMRHAI newsletter it is made clear that front line microbiology laboratories should be identifying carbapenemases and not referring them for identification. Charging for routine CPE identification will be introduced from 1 April 2018.