CCS need to get a move on.. At this rate APAS will be lucky to...

CCS need to get a move on.. At this rate APAS will be lucky to enjoy a 1 year head start on the competition. BD Kiestra have the patent applications in and snippets of validation studies keep popping up:

https://patentscope.wipo.int/search...=&sortOption=&queryString=&tab=PCTDescription


' [0048] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an example automated laboratory routine 200 for imaging, analyzing and, optionally, testing a culture. The routine 200 may be implemented by an automated microbiology laboratory system, such as the BD Kiestra™ Total Lab Automation or BD Kiestra™ Work Cell Automation. The example systems include interconnected modules, each module configured to execute one or more steps of the routine 200.

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[0052] The analysis may involve determining whether growth is detected in the medium. From an image analysis perspective, growth can be detected in an image by identifying an imaged object (based on differences between the object and its adjacent surroundings) and then identifying changes in the object over time. As described in greater detail herein, these differences and changes are both forms of "contrast." In addition to detecting growth, the image analysis at 108 may further involve quantifying the amount of growth detected, identifying distinct colonies, identifying sister colonies, etc.
[0053] At 210, it is determined whether the biological sample (particularly, the identified sister colonies) exhibits quantitatively significant growth. If no growth, or an insignificant amount of growth, is found, then the routine 200 may proceed to 220, in which a final report is output. In the case of proceeding from 210 to 220, the final report will likely indicate the lack of significant growth, or report the growth of normal flora.
[0054] If it is determined that the biological sample exhibits quantitatively significant growth, then at 212, one or more colonies may be picked from the images based on the prior analysis. Picking colonies may be a fully automated process, in which each of the picked colonies is sampled and tested. Alternatively, picking colonies may be a partially automated process, in which multiple candidate colonies are automatically identified and visually presented in a digital image to an operator, such that the operator may input a selection of one or more candidates for sampling and further testing. The sampling of selected or picked colonies may itself be automated by the system.
[0055] At 214, a sampled colony is prepared for the further testing, such as by plating the sample in an organism suspension. At 216, the sample is tested using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging to identify the type of specimen that was sampled from the original medium. At 218, the sample is also, or alternatively, subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) to identify possible treatments for the identified specimen.
[0056] At 220, the testing results are output in a final report. The report may include the MALDI and AST results. As mentioned above, the report may also indicate a quantification of specimen growth. Thus, the automated system is capable of beginning with an inoculated culture medium and generating a final report regarding a specimen found in the culture, with little or no additional input. '