BACT/ALERT® 3D
Scalable, automated blood culture solution designed to grow with your laboratory
BACT/ALERT 3D is a modular, automated blood culture platform that integrates colorimetric growth detection technology alongside a blood culture media portfolio spanning a decade of experience. Designed to accommodate a range of laboratory settings, from routine testing environments to higher-throughput operations, and is intended to support standardized workflows within laboratory processes.
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Optimizing Collection to Care
Bloodstream infections (BSIs) and sepsis demand speed and precision. In patients with septic shock, mortality increases by 7.6% for every hour of delay in effective antimicrobial therapy.1 Blood culture remains an integral part of BSI detection and management, but results are only as reliable as the workflow behind them.
At the same time, laboratories face increasing specimen volumes, staffing variability, and inconsistent workflows across sites, making standardization and efficiency harder to sustain.2
BACT/ALERT 3D
BACT/ALERT 3D is a flexible blood culture platform designed to expand with your laboratory needs, supporting centralized, decentralized, and networked lab models.
Its modular architecture allows laboratories to start with a small footprint and add incubation modules as volume increases. This single, standardized system is designed to replace fragmented, manual processes, supporting consistent performance across sites and shifts.
From 120 bottles to 1440 bottle capacity.
Benefits of BACT/ALERT 3D
BACT/ALERT 3D: Platelet testing
Quality control platelet testing with the BACT/ALERT 3D supports onsite transfusion testing workflows.
What this delivers to your lab4-6
- Consolidated system use : platelet testing may be performed on the same platform as other clinical microbial ID/AST tests, supporting the use of existing instrumentation.
- Consistent loading approach : Bottle loading processes are aligned on a common platform and workflow structure, configurable directly supporting all your testing needs.
- Quailty control testing of leukocyte-reduced apheresis platelets (LRAP)
- Single or pooled leukocyte-reduced whole blood platelet concentrates (LRWBPC)
One Connected Workflow
One integrated solution—from instrument to culture media.
BACT/ALERT 3D is fully compatible with the complete BACT/ALERT® culture media portfolio, including FAN® PLUS, pediatric, platelet testing, and MP bottles.6
Media and instrument are engineered to work together—delivering consistent performance, simplified inventory management, and standardized workflows.
Direct positive bottle inoculation for molecular identification and resistance gene detection compatibility with our BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® TORCH and VITEK® REVEAL™ Systems.
This integrated approach reduces fragmentation, supports antimicrobial stewardship efforts, centralized and decentralized workflows; to support reliable performance across patient populations and specimen types.
Technical Specifications
Designed for flexibility and throughput7
- BACT/ALERT 3D ergonomic design meets most clinical space limitations.
- System Scalability: Up to 6 BTA3D Incubator Modules can be connected at one time
- 1 Control Module + up to 6 incubator modules
- System Bottle Capacity: 120 (1 Control Module) to 1,440 bottles
- Detection Technology: Colorimetric growth detection
- Workflow: Continuous 24/7 operation, centralized or decentralized placement
- Compatible with blood and sterile body fluid testing, including mycobacteria
- Integrated quality control and secure bottle tracking
- Connectivity: optional MAESTRIA™ middleware integration, LIS connectivity.
Controller Module Specifications |
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Electrical Power Services Requirements | 100/120 Volts (50/60 Hz) 220/240 Volts (50/60 Hz) |
Power Consumed in Watts | @ 115 / 230 Volts (72 Watts typical) |
Heat | 245 BTU/hr |
Sound | 46.4 dB |
Controller Module Dimensions | Width: 14 inches (35.6 cm) Height: 36 inches (91.4 cm) Depth: 24.3 inches (61.7cm) Weight: 91 pounds (41.4 Kg) |
Combination Module Specifications |
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|---|---|
Electrical Power Services Requirements | 100/120 Volts (50/60 Hz) 220/240 Volts (50/60 Hz) |
Power Consumed in Watts | @ 115 / 230 Volts (72 Watts typical) |
Heat | 904 BTU/hr |
Sound | 55.5 dB |
Controller Module Dimensions | Width: 19.5 inches (49.6 cm) Height: 30.8 inches (78.1 cm) Depth: 24.5 inches (62.2 cm) Unloaded Weight: 199.5 pounds (90.7 Kg) Loaded Weight : 216.04 pounds (98.2 Kg) |
Environmental Requirements |
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Operating Temperature | 10 deg C to 30 deg C (50ºF to 86ºF) |
Operating Humidity | 10% - 90 % relative humidity, non-condensing |
BACT/ ALERT 3D Software
BACT/ALERT 3D software is offered in tiered configurations: Select, SelectLink, and Signature. This allows laboratories to match software capabilities to their workflow, connectivity, and data management needs. From routine testing to advanced microbiology workstations, each option delivers the same trusted detection performance while scaling operational visibility and control as laboratory complexity increases.
BACT/ALERT 3D Signature – For higher-volume laboratories, university settings, or where expanded flexibility in operating routines, reporting, and data management are needed.
BACT/ALERT 3D Select – For routine microbial testing in areas where expanded data management or laboratory information system (LIS) connectivity is not needed.
BACT/ALERT 3D SelectLink – For routine microbial testing where exchange of basic data and results with the LIS is a necessity.
REFERENCES:
- Kumar A, et al. Duration of hypotension before initiation of effective antimicrobial therapy is the critical determinant of survival in human septic shock. Critical Care Medicine. 2006;34(6):1589–1596.
- Halstead DC, Sautter RL. A literature review on how we can address medical laboratory scientist staffing shortages. Lab Med. 2023;54(1):e31–e36.
- Altun O, et al., Controlled evaluation of the new BacT/Alert Virtuo blood culture system for detection and time to detection of bacteria and yeasts. J Clin Microbiol. 2016;54(4):1148-1151.
- Package Insert BACT/ALERT, Ref. 410851/410852/410853
- Package Insert BACT/ALERT, Ref. 410853
- Package Insert BACT/ALERT, Ref. 419744
- BACT/ALERT 3D System User Manual – 514818
- Hang Y, et al. Comparison and evaluation of neutralization of clinically frequently used antimicrobial agents using three different culture media in simulated blood cultures. Microbiol Spectr.2024;12(10):e00979‑24
- Package Insert BACT/ALERT, Ref. 423278 / 423279
