Performance of Copan WASP for Routine Urine Microbiology

Abstract

This study compared a manual workup of urine clinical samples with fully automated WASPLab processing. As a first step, two different inocula (1 and 10 l) and different streaking patterns were compared using WASP and InoqulA BT instrumentation. Significantly more single colonies were produced with the10-l inoculum than with the 1-l inoculum, and automated streaking yielded significantly more single colonies than manual streaking on whole plates (P < 0.001). In a second step, 379 clinical urine samples were evaluated using WASP and the manual workup. Average numbers of detected morphologies, recovered species, and CFUs per milliliter of all 379 urine samples showed excellent agreement between WASPLab and the manual workup. The percentage of urine samples clinically categorized as positive or negative did not differ between the automated and manual workflow, but within the positive samples, automated processing by WASPLab resulted in the detection of more potential pathogens. In summary, the present study demonstrates that (i) the streaking pattern, i.e., primarily the number of zigzags/length of streaking lines, is critical for optimizing the number of single colonies yielded from primary cultures of urine samples; (ii) automated streaking by the WASP instrument is superior to manual streaking regarding the number of single colonies yielded (for 32.2% of the samples); and (iii) automated streaking leads to higher numbers of detected morphologies (for 47.5% of the samples), species (for 17.4% of the samples), and pathogens (for 3.4% of the samples). The results of this study point to an improved quality of microbiological analyses and laboratory reports when using automated sample processing by WASP and WASPLab.

<p>Clinical Performance of BD Kiestra InoqulA Automated System in a Chinese Tertiary Hospital</p>

“…[5][6][7][8][9] Previously, Croxatto et al 5 demonstrated that urine specimens processed with the benchtop InoqulA model resulted in better isolated colonies and fewer subcultures. This confirmed the observations made previously by Froment et al 6 with the Kiestra InoqulA and Quiblier et al 10 with urine specimens processed with the Copan WASP system. Croxatto et al 5 and Iversen et al 8 compared the performance of BD Kiestra InoqulA and Copan WASP with urine specimens and reported more isolated colonies from the InoqulA system.…”

Consolidation of Clinical Microbiology Laboratories and Introduction of Transformative Technologies

“…This process can be at least partly automated but (in our experience) requires continuous monitoring and significant residual manual input from appropriately qualified and experienced laboratory technologists. Although comparison of manual and automated urine cultures showed that automation increased the number of positive samples and generated greater microbial diversity among positive samples, there was no evidence for better time to result, and the different positivity rates were not significantly different (27). Additional health economics studies describing the financial consequences of TLA are still much needed.…”

“…Classical culture-based microbiology provides important subject matter as to how TLA improves processes at various levels. Automated plate and broth inoculation saves labor by eliminating repetitive and manual tasks while adding the benefit of producing more isolated bacterial colonies (27,30,31). Due to the variety of incoming specimens, a preanalytical step may be required.…”

Evaluation of WASPLab Software To Automatically Read chromID CPS Elite Agar for Reporting of Urine Cultures

“…Automation in the clinical laboratory has developed significantly over the years, beginning with automated streaking instrumentation and culminating in total laboratory automation (TLA) that inoculates, streaks, images plates, and incubates cultures. The two most prominent automation systems are the WASPLab software (Copan Diagnostics, Brescia, Italy) and the BD Kiestra system (Becton, Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ), both of which have been reported to improve consistency in plating and free up the technologist's time to perform other duties (14,15). Image analysis software has been added to these systems and has demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting growth on chromogenic agar for patient screening (16)(17)(18).…”