Validation and modification of the 4SIGHT computer program

There is disclosed a process for the rapid identification of a microorganism and an apparatus for performing the method. The process comprises inoculating a number of different 14C labeled substrates with an unknown organism, at least some of said 14C labeled substrates being capable of being metabolized to 14CO2 by certain specific microorganisms. The substrates are incubated for a time sufficient to cause metabolic breakdown of at least some of said substrates resulting in the production of 14CO2 and analysis for radioactivity in the 14CO2 which is evolved from those substrates which are metabolized is performed to determine which substrates are metabolized and which substrates are not metabolized by the unknown microorganisms. There is thereby obtained a substrate radiorespirometric profile for the unknown microorganisms which is compared to standard radiorespirometric profiles for known organisms to determine to which standard radiorespirometric profile the radiorespirometric profile for said unknown microorganisms corresponds.