Medical Supply Company is delighted to expand our identification (I.D) and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) portfolio through our recent partnership with Mast Group Ltd.
Mast Group Ltd. is recognised globally as a top-quality manufacturer of I.D and AST products. Mast Group has established itself and remains at the forefront of innovation and developments in this field.
Why choose Mast Group?
- > 60 years’ experience, technical expertise, and quality.
- Personalised service: products manufactured to the customer’s specification.
- Continually expanding their range of I.D and AST products.
- In accordance with national guidelines, CLSI and EUCAST.
Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing Products
Mast Group Ltd. has an ever-expanding range of AST products, including MASTDISCS® AST and MASTRING-S®. MASTDISCS® AST is available as an extensive range of antibiotic susceptibility test discs presented in dispensing cartridges or glass vials. All antibiotic discs are strictly quality-controlled for potency and batch uniformity and are compatible with the MAST® DISCMASTER Dispenser.
Mast also manufactures a range of antibiotic susceptibility rings. MASTRING-S® is an antibiotic susceptibility ring device for the convenient, simultaneous testing of the equivalent of 6 or 8 antibiotic discs. The use of a unique hydrophobic barrier on the paper ring device ensures that the antibiotic-impregnated tips function as individual antibiotic susceptibility discs, generating precise circular zones of inhibition for measurement of the zone diameter. Mast’s susceptibility ring can be manufactured to a customer’s specific AST requirements; therefore, it can be a convenient and flexible alternative to using individual discs for AST testing.
Why is disc diffusion the gold standard for AST testing?
Disc diffusion is still the most popular and widely used method for determining bacterial antibiotic susceptibility in the treatment of infectious diseases, as highlighted by EUCAST and CLSI.
There are several reasons why this method is preferred in many clinical and research settings:
- Simplicity and Cost-Effectiveness: The disc diffusion method is simple and cost-effective compared to other methods. It doesn’t require expensive equipment and can be performed in most laboratories with basic resources.
- Wide Applicability: This method can be used to test a wide range of antibiotics against various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. It provides a general overview of the organism’s susceptibility to multiple antibiotics simultaneously.
- Standardisation: The procedure and interpretation criteria for the disc diffusion method are standardized by organizations like CLSI and EUCAST. This ensures consistency and comparability of results across different laboratories.
- Qualitative and Quantitative Data: The method yields qualitative results (susceptible, intermediate, or resistant) and can also be used to obtain quantitative data by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone.
- Ability to Detect Multiple Resistance Mechanisms: The disc diffusion method can detect various resistance mechanisms, including target site alterations, enzymatic inactivation, and decreased drug accumulation, providing valuable information about the nature of resistance.
I.D and detection products
Mast Group Ltd. also offers a range of products for identification and detection by a variety of methods, incorporating disc testing, biochemical tests, latex agglutination, and agglutinating antisera. The identification and detection range gives clinical laboratories confidence in the day-to-day identification and differentiation of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms by their biochemical properties and resistance mechanisms.
The range includes:
- MASTDISCS® ID in cartridges or vials, and MASTRING-S® incorporating biochemical reagents, growth factors and antibiotics.
- MAST® ID paper strips and circles impregnated with biochemical reagents or antibiotics.
- MAST® ASSURE an extensive range of both polyvalent and monovalent diagnostic antisera.
- MAST® ID Biochemical Identification media for the clinical identification of Enterobacteriaceae
- Identification of MRSA and Coagulase using MAST®ID SELECTAVIAL
If you are interested in a particular Mast product or would just like to browse the Mast range, click here or you can get in touch with one of MSC’s product specialists below.
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