MULTICENTER EVALUATION OF A MODIFIED PROTOCOL FOR THE RAPIDEC STAPHYLOCOCCUS SYSTEM FOR DIRECT IDENTIFICATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS IN BLOOD CULTURES

A modified protocol for the RAPIDEC Staph system (bioMerieux, Marcy-l' Etoile, France) for direct identification of Staphylococcus aureus in blood cultures was evaluated in a multicenter study. A total of 129 bl ood cultures (BACTEC 9000 Blood Culture System; Becton Dickinson Diagn ostic Instrument Systems, Sparks, hid.) containing grant-positive cocc i in clusters were analyzed by conventional methods and by RAPIDEC Sta ph in accordance with the manufacturer's protocol and in accordance wi th a modified protocol. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values obtained with the manufacturer's protocol were 90.5, 97.7, 95.0, and 95.5%, respectively, and those obtained wit h the modified protocol were 100, 96.6, 93.3, and 100%, respectively. The modified protocol for the RAPIDEC Staph is easier to perform than the manufacturer's protocol and is very reliable.