We evaluated the accuracy and performance of the FilmArray Direct from Positive Blood Culture system (BCID) (BioFire Diagnostics, Salt Lake City, UT, USA) and the VITEK Mass Spectrometry System (Vitek MS; bioMerieux, Durham, NC, USA) to identify bacterial isolates from 161 positive blood culture bottles. The BCID uses multiplex PCR to identify 90-95% of common isolates to the genus or species/complex level as well as mecA, Van A/B, and bla(KPC) genes in approximately 1 hour. Of 151 monomicrobic isolates, the FilmArray correctly identified 48/49 (98%) to the genus and 84/84 (100%) to the species/complex level, while 18/151 (12%) gave no identification, as expected from the database. Mass spectrometry correctly identified 142/151 (94%) monomicrobic cultures to the genus level, 137/151 (91%) to the species level, with only 8/151(5%) giving no identification. Although mass spectrometry has a much larger database, the filtration system was cumbersome in contrast to the 3-5 minutes hands-on-time for the BCID.

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