MicroStation System, MicroLog Version 4.2 - DTU Systems Biology ...

Interpreting Results
Understanding
the language of
microbe
identification:
% PROB –
allows you to
compare our IDs
to other systems
that use this type
of calculation
SIM – tells you
how good each
match is
DIST – tells you
the number of
mismatches
between your
MicroPlate
results and the
database pattern
for that species
Pinning Down an Uncertain ID
If the top-rated choices show any of the following results, you may
want to do some additional probing:
• The top-rated ID choices on the list are random and unrelated
genera
• For GN, GP, & AN database (24 hour results):
• SIM is very near 0.5
• DIST is greater than 5.0
• DIST of the first and second choices are nearly equal (less than
two distance points apart)
• There are many variable reactions (more than 15)
• For YT database (≥48 hour results):
• SIM is near 0.5
• DIST is greater than 5.0
• DIST of the first and second choices are nearly equal
• There are many variable reactions (more than 15)
• For FF database (all time points):
• SIM is near cutoff values for each day (1-4)
• DIST is greater than 5.0
• DIST of the first, second and third choices are nearly equal
• There are many variable reactions (more than 30)
Note: For FF MicroPlate identifications, verification of the culture
morphology is necessary. Refer to the software database photo library
or mycology textbooks as references.
For additional assistance in interpreting results, contact Biolog
Technical Service.
ID Rules of Thumb:
SIM = 1.0 � a perfect match
SIM = 0.0 � no match
The closer to 1.0, the better the match.
Section 6 � Page 2 MicroStation System/MicroLog User Guide Apr 07