BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), has launched Bactec MGIT 320 mycobacteria culture system, a new, smaller capacity system to detect tuberculosis (TB).
The BD Bactec MGIT 320 system is half the physical size of the BD Bactec MGIT 960 system, a fully automated system for mycobacterial liquid culture and susceptibility testing.
BD Diagnostics said that the new system holds 320 tubes, for an annual capacity of approximately 2,700 specimens per year. It makes optimal use of valuable laboratory space and offers a flexible configuration as either a bench-top or stand-mounted instrument.
With the BD Bactec MGIT 320 system’s liquid technology available globally, TB deaths and transmission rates decreases. As with the larger model, the new system can shorten mycobacterial culture recovery time and improve patient management as compared with conventional media or sputa smear approaches.
The system offers easy-to-use culture detection, with minimal hands-on time, employs plastic screw-cap tubes for safe, easy access to the medium and a simple, four-step instrument workflow. As an additional safety measure, the system does not require needles to inoculate or subculture the test tubes, eliminating the risk of needlestick injuries while inoculating tubes or working up positive cultures.
The BD Bactec MGIT 320 system uses MGIT media and patented sensors, making efficient use of advanced fluorometric technology, which permits accurate detection of O2 consumption without sharps that has proven performance in the BD Bactec MGIT 960 System.
Philippe Jacon, president of diagnostic systems at BD Diagnostics, said: “The BD Bactec MGIT 320 System will continue BD’s leadership in fighting TB worldwide through proper detection. Quick, safe, efficient testing is critical in the diagnosis of TB.
“The BD Bactec MGIT 320 system offers the same quality and benefits as the BD Bactec MGIT 960 faster, more accurate detection through liquid culture technology but in a smaller-scale format that will appeal to laboratories with the appropriate capacity for their workload.”