apas will allow a negative result to be released without user...

apas will allow a negative result to be released without user intervention. This is typically greater than 50 percent of all plates as you know.

Therfore skilled time can be directed to those apas segregated samples that actually require microbiologist skills to then further ID if required. I don't think apas is claiming to ID an organism but it did demonstrate accuracy on the the MAC plate...that is it can reliably detect a colour for interpretation also....just like the blue on MRSA plate.

No point paying good money for skilled people to look at a negative plate.....

As you say it's only one piece of the puzzle. But it's perhaps a very important piece in facilitating delivery of results. Imo.