During the AOAC Study, the MIDI Sherlock System was subjected to exhaustive testing of geographically diverse strains of B. anthracis and related bacteria to determine its ability to differentiate among them. The 11 laboratories involved in the study reported an overall sensitivity for the identification of B. anthracis of 96.3 percent. Scientists at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, MD contributed the anthrax data used in the MIDI Sherlock System. Although the anthrax pathogen was the sole focus of the MIDI evaluation, the system also contains entries for other potential bioterrorism agents that cause diseases such as bubonic plague, tularemia, brucellosis, glanders and melioidosis.
The Sherlock Microbial Identification System identifies over 1,500 species of bacteria by automated analysis of the fatty acids in the bacterial cell membrane. The bacteria are identified by comparing their fatty acid "fingerprint" to databases of known fatty acid patterns. The system includes several bacterial databases, including The MIDI BIOTERTM database (version 2), which was exclusively used in the study. The MIDI Sherlock System can identify more than 200 bacterial samples per day at a cost of less than $3.00 per sample for consumables and has proven effective for routine bacterial identifications at state health laboratories, major hospitals, government facilities and military installations worldwide. It was used during the 2001 anthrax attacks and was the first system to identify the anthrax pathogen in the Connecticut case.
Dr. Myron Sasser, President of MIDI stated, "What makes the MIDI Sherlock System unique is that it is a dual-use system. It doesn't just sit on the shelf until a bioterrorism attack occurs. Rather, it is a laboratory-based system that can be used on a routine basis to identify commonly isolated bacteria from clinical and environmental sources, while at the same time proactively screening for potential agents of bioterrorism. Suspicion of a bioterrorism agent is not required for effective use of the system. With AOAC Official MethodsSM status, laboratories will now have a highly accurate confirmatory identification system that can be used for both routine bacterial identifications and potential anthrax attacks."
Availability
Available since late 2000, the MIDI BIOTER database has been provided free of charge to qualified MIDI customers as a public service. Sherlock is a registered trademark of MIDI, Inc and BIOTER is a trademark product.
About MIDI
MIDI, Inc. is a private company located in Newark, Delaware. MIDI has been supplying bacterial identification solutions and services to governmental, military, state laboratories, research facilities and pharmaceutical companies since 1985. In addition to the Sherlock Microbial Identification System, MIDI markets the Sherlock Mycobacteria Identification System for identification of the tuberculosis pathogen and related bacteria.
About USAMRIID
USAMRIID, located at Fort Detrick, Maryland, is the lead medical research laboratory for the U.S. Biological Defense Research Program, and plays a key role in national defense and in infectious disease research. The Institute's mission is to conduct basic and applied research on biological threats resulting in medical solutions (such as vaccines, drugs and diagnostics) to protect the warfighter. USAMRIID is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.
The information contained in this press release does not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the Government and no official endorsement should be inferred