The Changing Culture of the Microbiology Laboratory

The development and implementation of novel diagnostic techniques has had a profound effect on microbiology laboratory services in recent decades. Traditional microscopy, culture and biochemical testing techniques have been the mainstay for identification and anti-microbial susceptibility testing of microorganisms for generations (1,2). While these tests remain the core basis and standard practice in most laboratories, new techniques, such as nucleic acid-based assays and mass spectrometry, are increasingly being used. In some cases, these are enhancing existing diagnostic algorithms and, in others, they are replacing traditional testing approaches. Although these new techniques are powerful and offer many potential advantages over traditional methods, they have a number of limitations. In the present note, we briefly review new and evolving testing modalities in the microbiology laboratory. It is important to note that we did not intend to provide an in-depth technical appraisal of testing modalities. Rather, our objective was to highlight a number of new testing modalities in the context of traditional testing for bedside clinicians.