Ability of the new VITEK® 2 Neisseria-Haemophilus card for the identification of fastidious organisms

The ability of the new VITEK 2 Neisseria-Haemophilus card (bioMérieux) for the identification of Neisseria, Haemophilus and other fastidious Gram-negative organisms was compared with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and others reference methods, in a clinical microbiology laboratory. The VITEK 2 NH card correctly identified 100 isolates (95%) of 105 isolates. Four isolates were misidentified (1 Campylobacter coli, 1 Campylobacter jejuni, 1 Neisseria meningitidis and 1 Haemophilus influenzae) and one C. coli was unidentified. With its extended database and results available within 6 hours, this card could be considered a useful tool for routine use in clinical microbiology laboratory.