EVALUATION OF API NH, A NEW 2-HOUR SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFICATION OF NEISSERIA AND HAEMOPHILUS SPECIES AND MORAXELLA-CATARRHALIS IN A ROUTINE CLINICAL LABORATORY

API NH is a new 2-h system (bioMerieux, La Balme-les-Grottes, France) for the identification of most Neisseria and Haemophilus spp. of clini cal significance and of Moraxella catarrhalis and for the detection of penicillinase production. Furthermore, this system allows the biotypi ng of Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus parainfluenzae. Three hun dred eighteen strains belonging to these species, previously identifie d by conventional methods, were tested. Among the 305 strains belongin g to species included in the data base, 225 (73.8%) were identified wi thout additional tests, 79 (25.9%) were correctly identified after ext ra tests, and 1 strain (0.3%) was misidentified. For 131 (90.3%) of th e 145 H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae strains, results of biotypin g were in agreement with results of standard methods. API NH is an acc urate and reliable method for the routine identification of these bact eria in a clinical laboratory, for biotyping of Haemophilus spp., and for the detection of penicillinase-producing strains. The system is re ady to use and time saving; inoculation of the system and reading of r esults are easy.