Microbiology – Compare

The  button allows the user to access the Microbiology Compare window from either Identification List window or by selecting one of the Bacteria/Mycobacteria/Yeasts tabs.

Microbiology Compare displays a graphic presentation of only those reactions that distinguish between the organisms listed. This list is optimized (ranked in order of the ability of individual tests to discriminate between taxa) – the best test is listed first. Optimization is useful in saving time, cost, and labor. Only those tests which hadn’t been selected in the Phenotype box will be displayed.

The graphic comprises two or more columns, depending on the number of organisms you are comparing. The left column lists the tests. The columns to the right display the names of, and reactions noted, for each organism you are comparing. As the cursor moves over each column, that organism’s name displays along with information from the Microbiology Information General tab.

The legend in the lower right corner explains the signs used in the graphic presentation:

• The signs or indicate that most or all isolates in a given species are positive or negative, respectively, for the indicated reaction.
• A blank space indicates that data for the indicated reaction are not available.
• Biochemical and phenotypic characteristics exhibiting variable results are denoted by a .

The three buttons to the right of the graphic are:

• Prints the information in the Microbiology Compare window.
• Emails the information in the Microbiology Compare window.
• Closes Microbiology Compare window.

Additional information

• Case of the Month – Bacteria – Back to the Basics
• Case of the Month – Comparing Botulism to Tetanus to Gangrene
• Case of the Month – Creative Debugging
• Microbiology Video demo
• Microbiology tutorial