Becton Dickinson BACTEC FX40

The BD BACTEC FX40 is designed for the rapid detection of bacteria and fungi in clinical samples. Samples are collected from patients and injected directly into BACTEC culture vials, which are placed in the instrument for incubation and testing. If microorganisms are present in the culture vials, they absorb the nutrients in the medium, releasing carbon dioxide. The dye contained in the detector at the bottom of the vial reacts with the CO2. This has the effect of modulating the amount of light absorbed by the fluorescent material in the detector. The photo detector at each position measures the level of fluorescence that corresponds to the amount of CO2 released by the microorganisms. The measurement is then interpreted by the system according to pre-programmed "positive" result parameters. A test cycle of all rows is performed every ten minutes. When "positive" cultures are detected, the instrument's front panel indicator lights up immediately, an audible alarm sounds, and such cultures are displayed on the tablet. Once positive vials are detected, the laboratory technician removes them from the instrument to confirm the results and to isolate and identify the microorganism.