Why Assured Micro Trusts VITEK® MS PRIME

Assured Micro, part of the Micronclean group of companies, is a specialist microbiology testing laboratory trusted by pharmaceutical and life-science organisations across the UK.

As Microbiological Specialist, Craig Gordon played a key role in bringing VITEK® MS PRIME into the laboratory. In this testimonial, he explains how the system has helped Assured Micro bring more identification work in-house, reduce reliance on external services, improve turnaround times, and strengthen the value they deliver to customers.

What challenges were you facing with microbial identification before adopting VITEK^® MS Prime?

Previously, many of our samples had to be sent overseas for identification, creating several operational challenges. The lack of direct control over international shipping often resulted in delays, while tracking samples became increasingly difficult once they left the UK. The process was also costly, with shipping and postage expenses mounting over time.

Beyond the financial impact, the process demanded significant time and resource investment from our operators, who were responsible for preparing, shipping, and monitoring samples. These factors combined to slow the delivery of identification results, ultimately increasing turnaround times and delaying customer reports.

What were the key factors that led you to choose VITEK® MS Prime over alternative solutions?

We looked at different options, but bioMérieux was always one of the stand-out suppliers for us. Assured Micro has a long-established relationship with bioMérieux, giving us confidence not only in the quality of their solutions but also in the level of customer service and support they provide. As a recognised market leader, bioMérieux has a strong reputation within the industry, which further reinforced our decision.

We were already familiar with their equipment and processes, and sourced a lot of our materials from them. What we really wanted was a system that could give us faster turnaround times for identifications, while also being supported by robust technical expertise. Having access to good technical support was a key requirement for us, and both the customer service and technical expertise from bioMérieux were a huge benefit.

We no longer need to perform Gram stains as part of the identification process, which has reduced operator time and given us more control over our samples. It also allowed us to bring more of the work in-house, which was a big step forward for the lab.

On top of that, it gave us something new to offer our clients. Bringing in this technology has helped us modernise our service offering, improve efficiency, and strengthen our position within the industry

Can you give a specific result or outcome that impressed you?

One of the most impressive outcomes has been our ability to provide same-day identifications. For many of our clients, particularly local businesses across Glasgow and the surrounding areas, this has been a real game changer. Having access to identification results on the same day enables them to make faster, more informed decisions and take immediate action when required.

This has been especially valuable for clients dealing with contamination events in cleanroom environments and products, where understanding exactly what organism is present is critical. Rapid identification allows them to investigate potential sources of contamination more quickly and implement the appropriate corrective actions, including selecting the most effective cleaning and disinfection strategies.

From an operational perspective, we have also been extremely impressed with the identification success rate. In most cases, we can obtain a reliable identification directly on the instrument, improving efficiency and reducing turnaround times.

The regular database updates further enhance confidence in the system and help ensure we continue to deliver accurate, high-quality results. Overall, these improvements have had a significant positive impact, not only for our clients but also for Assured Micro as a business, strengthening our service offering and operational capabilities.

Craig Gordon has been with Assured Micro for over ten years and is the company's Microbiological Specialist, having been actively involved in implementing VITEK^® MS PRIME in 2022. Assured Micro is an independent microbiology testing company working with pharmaceutical companies and other science-sector clients, carrying out environmental monitoring, bioburden testing, water testing, and bespoke test protocols for clients with unique requirements.