This Automated metabolic characterization system uses a 96-well microtiter plate
arrayed with different carbon sources and the microorganism of interest. Each
microorganism has unique capacities to oxidize the various carbon sources.
Tetrazolium dye in each of the wells turn darker shades of purple as the carbon
sources are oxidized by the microorganism. The test yields a characteristic
pattern of positive (purple) and negative wells which provide a metabolic signature
with the database of interest to determine an identification. Databases include
aerobes, anaerobes, gram positive & negative bacteria, yeast, actinomycetes, and
lactic acid bacteria.