Conclusion important to note that sugar pro obtained by API from excellent It is very files good or acceptable identification (identification of one strain with ID 85 95%), gave several doubtful and low discrimination profiles (identification of two or more stra- ins with ID 80%). Therefore, a clear species or subspe- cies assignment was not possible and the identification of the doubtful and low discrimination profiles was perfor- med on the basis of other tests, such as cell morphology growth at various temperatures, etc. Identification of lactic acid bacteria with large numbers of tests is tedious, time consuming and the results obtained, mostly by media with colorimetric changes, the evaluation of which is al ways subjective, are often difficult to interpret. Further- more, determination of carbohydrate fermentations is not very convenient and may be misleading (Shaw and Har ding, 1984). It is unsatisfactory to consider only carbohy-