| Term | Definition |
| Identifying the infectious agent | *sample collection
*Phenotypic analyses
*Genotype analyses
*Immunological analyses |
| What is Phenotypic Analyses? | the physical analyse of identifying the infectious agent
examples : Morphology, Biochemistry (the makeup), and Chemical analyses
Phenotypic Methods have Physiological/Biochemical characteristics |
| What is the Genotype Analyses? | the genetic makeup (DNA) analyse of identifying the infectious agent |
| Phenotypic Method: Microscopic Morphology | *Cell shape and size
*Gram stain reaction
*Acid fast reaction
*Special structures |
| Phenotypic Method: Macroscopic Morphology | *Colony appearance
*Speed of growth
*Patterns of growth |
| Phenotypic Method: Chemical Analysis | Analyzing the types of specific structural substances that the microorganism contains
Examples: Chemical composition of peptides in the cell wall and lipids in membranes |
| What are the Physiological/Biochemical characteristics? | *traditional mainstay of bacterial identification
*diagnostic tests for determining the presence of specific enzymes and assessing nutritional and metabolic activities |
| What are some examples of Physiological/Biochemical characteristics? | *Fermentation of sugars
*capacity to metabolize complex polymers
*production of gas
*presence of enzymes
*sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs |
| Genotypic Methods | *Primary advantage over phenotypic methods
--actual culturing the microorganisms is not always necessary
*Increasingly automated with results obtained very quickly |
| Do you have to culture in the Genotypic Method? | No |
| Immunological Methods | *Antibody response to antigen
*Blood testing-easier then testing for microbe itself
*Lab Kits available for immediate identification of a number of pathogens |
| First Laboratory Techniques | *Direct tests using microscopic, immunologic, or genetic methods along with signs and symptoms
*Provide immediate clues |
| Second Laboratory Techniques | *Cultivation, isolation, and identification of pathogen using a wide variety of general and specific tests |
| Results Laboratory Techniques: Presumptive data | place isolate in a preliminary category such as genus
*educated guess but can treat because of genus |
| Results Laboratory Techniques: Confirmatory data | provide more definitive evidence of a species
*enough evidence for genus and species |
