Ultra-Rapid AST System Provides Critical Results for Sepsis Patients

The QuickMIC ultra-rapid AST system, developed by Gradientech AB (Uppsala, Sweden), is designed to provide critical results for sepsis patients. This instrument can analyze a single positive blood culture sample per run, delivering precise minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values within 2–4 hours directly from positive blood cultures. The system employs unique technology based on a continuous linear antibiotic gradient, offering greater resolution, precision, and accuracy compared to methods that rely on discrete antibiotic concentrations. Microcolonies of bacteria exposed to this gradient are monitored in real-time using live imaging. The QuickMIC Analyst software then examines the growth patterns along the antibiotic gradient to determine accurate MIC values.

QuickMIC cassettes test each blood culture sample against a panel of multiple antibiotics, with each pre-filled cassette containing twelve antibiotics specifically designed for common sepsis-causing bacteria. The gram-negative antibiotic panel targets pathogens such as E. coli, Klebsiella spp., P. aeruginosa, E. cloacae, A. baumannii, Proteus spp., Citrobacter spp., and S. marcescens. Laboratories can use QuickMIC in conjunction with their preferred rapid identification methods to provide quicker results to clinical teams. Up to twelve QuickMIC instruments can be stacked together, allowing labs to increase testing capacity while saving valuable bench space. QuickMIC and its gram-negative panel are CE-marked and commercially available in Europe, although they are not yet available for sale in the United States.

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