Organisms present will produce CO2 that will diffuse across a semipermeable membrane reacting with a sensor. The CO2 produced the lighter color the sensor becomes. The light reflected off the sensor is measured by a photodetector. Diagnosis and treatment has changed dramatically since the advent of rapid antigen testing. Micro West consists of 4 subsections, Bacteriology, Mycobacteriology, Mycology and Virology.
Bacteriology analyzes, evaluates and interprets plate growth for pathogens.
A suspected pathogen is put into a suspension then inoculated into two separate plastic sealed cards. Most specimens submitted for Mycobacteriology testing require special processing techniques that are performed by specially trained lab personnel. Mycology cultures are examined for yeast and mold pathogens and slow growing bacteria such as Nocardia. Yeasts and molds are speciated using biochemical and other methodologies. Virology detects and identifies viruses and other organisms using various culture methodologies and immunoassays.