Copan WASPLab automation significantly reduces incubation times and allows earlier culture readings

ObjectiveThe aim was to evaluate whether laboratory automation (inoculation and automated incubation combined with timely defined high-resolution digital imaging) may help reduce the time required to obtain reliable culture analysis results.MethodsWe compared the results obtained by WASPLab automation against WASP-based automated inoculation coupled to conventional incubation and manual diagnostic on 1294 clinical samples (483 for the derivation set and 811 for the independent validation set) that included urine, genital tract and non-sterile site specimens, as well as ESwabs for screening of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). We used sequential routine specimens referred to the bacteriology laboratory at Geneva University Hospitals between October 2018 and March 2019.ResultsThe detection sensitivity of MRSA and MSSA at 18 hr on WASPLab was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.48–100.00%). The detection sensitivity of ESBL and CPE at 16 hr on WASPLab was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 94.87% to 100.00%). For urine specimens, the similarity was 79% (295/375) between 18 hr and 24 hr of incubation on WASPLab. For genital tract and non-sterile site specimens, the similarity between 16 hr and 28 hr of incubation on WASPLab were 26% (72/281) and 77% (123/159) respectively. Thus, 28 hr was defined as the final incubation time on WASPLab for genital tract and non-sterile site specimens.ConclusionsThe results of this study show that WASPLab automation enables a reduction of the culture reading time for all specimens tested without affecting performances. Implementing the established and duly validated incubation times will allow appropriate laboratory workflows for improved efficiency to be built.