Microbial Identification

  • Biochemical Profiling
  • Microbes can be identified to genus species based on colonial morphology, Gram stain, and biochemical profile.  That is determining which substrates the microbe metabolizes.   FOCUS Laboratories utilizes API kits, BBL Crystal kits and Vitek 2 automated system.  Identifications are available in one day if necessary.

  • MicroSEQ

The gold standard for identification of microbial isolates is to focus on the genetic profile.  FOCUS Laboratories utilizes the MicroSeq System’s highly accurate phylogenetic approach for microbial identification based on the sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria or the D2 region of the large subunit for fungi.

The system includes the largest fully validated bacterial and fungal libraries.  The bacterial library includes over 2000 species and the fungal library includes over 1100 entries.  Access to BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) further strengthens this system.

Once an identification is achieved, FOCUS Laboratories can help assess the impact on product safety.