QuickMIC®: Ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing

Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods are increasingly being adopted to reduce time to guided antibiotic treatment in critically ill patients. This poster presents a study comparing turnaround time of rapid AST for urine culture isolates and positive blood cultures using the QuickMIC rapid AST system and laboratory standard methods. Learn how rapid AST results for patients with suspected sepsis can potentially be achieved faster from urine culture isolates compared to positive blood cultures.

Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is a cornerstone in the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and improve patient outcomes. While ultra-rapid technologies are redefining clinical microbiology, widespread adoption remains a complex challenge for many healthcare facilities. Understanding the intersection of technological innovation, clinical evidence, and laboratory logistics is essential for a successful transition to faster diagnostics.

This SelectScience resource, produced in partnership with Gradientech, developers of the QuickEST™ ultra-rapid AST system, presents the findings of a comprehensive industry-wide survey. The results highlight the current state of AST implementation, identifying the critical roadblocks labs face—from workflow integration to cost-benefit analysis—and providing a clear roadmap for moving toward a faster, more precise diagnostic standard.

Key takeaways from the report:

• Why most clinical microbiology labs are now actively prioritizing and evaluating new diagnostic tools.
• How ultra-rapid AST delivers measurable improvements in time-to-result (TTR) and targeted therapy.
• Identifying the support labs need from manufacturers to bridge the gap between pilot programs and routine clinical use.
• Expert analysis on overcoming common hurdles in cost, staff training, and evidence-based integration.
• Exploring the demand for precise, high-throughput technologies that fit modern lab environments.

Whether you are currently evaluating rapid AST platforms or building a business case for future investment, this infographic breaks down the data you need to drive successful clinical adoption.

Download now to discover how your lab can overcome diagnostic roadblocks and set a new standard in AST.

Discover the QuickMIC® system’s rapid phenotypic AST capabilities for Gram-negative bacteria, providing highly accurate antibiotic susceptibility results within just 2–4 hours — cutting traditional turnaround times by over 80%. Explore QuickMIC’s significant clinical impact on early infection management, especially in sepsis cases, and its critical role in combating multidrug resistance.

The adoption of precision-guided antibiotic treatment for sepsis can improve patient outcomes by providing the right therapy at the right time. It relies on rapid diagnostics, real-time patient monitoring, and advanced PK/PD modelling. Implementing these approaches requires collaboration among healthcare professionals and a willingness to move beyond traditional, standardized treatment protocols. Gradientech emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift in sepsis management, advocating for the use of precision-guided treatments supported by cutting-edge diagnostic technologies to reduce mortality and healthcare costs associated with sepsis.

This eBook highlights current clinical barriers that any emerging next-generation antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) solution may face and provides possible solutions to overcoming these challenges.

April 22, 2025, 15:00 BST / 16:00 CEST / 10:00 EDT / 07:00 PDT

Sepsis and bloodstream infections (BSIs) remain among the most urgent medical emergencies, requiring rapid intervention. The rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) further complicates treatment, particularly in regions with high resistance rates. Innovative diagnostic tools are critical to improving patient outcomes and combating the spread of resistance.

Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) systems, like the ultra-rapid QuickMIC® system, are revolutionizing infection management by providing clinically actionable MIC values within hours instead of days. These solutions empower clinicians to swiftly tailor antibiotic therapy, curb resistance selection, and enhance the clinical care of critically ill patients.

In this webinar, expert speakers from different AMR landscapes will share their insights and real-world experiences with rapid AST in sepsis management. Join us for a discussion on how rapid AST solutions are transforming laboratory workflows, supporting antimicrobial stewardship, and shaping the future of infection diagnostics.

Key learning objectives:

• Learn about emerging technologies within rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and their value to clinical microbiology labs
• Gain an understanding of how rapid AST methods are used to combat sepsis and antimicrobial resistance in different settings
• Explore real-world applications of rapid AST and examine its impact on laboratory workflows and patient care

Who should attend?

• Microbiologists
• Infectious disease clinicians
• Professionals working within clinical microbiology

Certificate of attendance

All webinar participants can request a certificate of attendance, including a learning outcomes summary, for continuing education purposes.

If you view the on-demand webinar, you can request a certificate of attendance by emailing editor@selectscience.net.

Dr. Giuliana Lo Cascio, Medical Doctor and Director of the Unit for Microbiology and Virology at Ospedale Gugliemo da Saliceto di Piacenza, emphasizes the transformative impact of rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in clinical microbiology. By reducing turnaround time to 24 hours or less, this technology enables more targeted and effective treatment for septic and intensive care patients, optimizing therapy and improving patient outcomes.

Beyond patient care, rapid AST reshapes laboratory workflows, requiring strategic integration at both unit and hospital levels. However, adoption faces hurdles, including cost, technician training, and technical constraints in labs without 24-hour operations. Dr. Lo Cascio remains optimistic that, like molecular biology testing, costs will decrease with widespread use.

Collaboration between clinicians, microbiologists, hospital directors, and antimicrobial stewardship teams is essential to overcoming these challenges. By integrating new technologies effectively, hospitals can strengthen their fight against antimicrobial resistance and improve mortality rates.

SelectScience interview filmed at ESCMID Global 2025 in Vienna, Austria.

Many current antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) technologies can bear fundamental limitations, including low speed, high variability, and poor access to methods close to the patient. In this video, Prof. Holger Rohde from the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, discusses how he uses the QuickMIC® from Gradientech to completely optimize laboratory diagnostic workflows and improve the communication of results to the clinician. Dr. Christer Malmberg, Chief Scientist at Gradientech, explains how this ultra-rapid AST system is designed to enable optimized AST to speed up time to result and delivery of optimized therapy for patients with infectious diseases.

This video was filmed at ECCMID 2023, Copenhagen.

The system’s unique technology utilizes microfluidics and live imaging to monitor bacterial growth across a linear antibiotic gradient

With antimicrobial resistance on the rise, rapid AST offers a lifeline for critically ill patients and supports improved antibiotic stewardship

The award recognises Gradientech’s impactful and innovative campaign to raise awareness about its QuickMIC ultra-rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) system

QuickMIC systems have already been installed at both hospitals and are now in the process of being implemented in clinical routine

Gradientech showcases new QuickMIC clinical data and innovations at ESCMID Global 2025