Capillary-based system for accelerated antimicrobial susceptibility testing

A method for analyzing bacteria for antimicrobial susceptibility, the method comprising:

• i) providing a system comprising:
• a) at least one mount defining a plurality of holders, each holder configured to receive a conduit extending along a longitudinal axis by a length between a first end and a second end, the conduit defining a lumen configured to hold a liquid sample;
• b) at least one light source configured to output light to a first end of a conduit disposed in each of the plurality of holders;
• and
• c) at least one light detection device configured to receive light emitted from the second end of a conduit disposed in each of the plurality of holders following transmission of the light through a liquid sample borne in the lumen and to output a signal relating to a value of one or more components of the light emitted from the second end of the conduit,
• ii) selecting a conduit comprising a lumen from a plurality of conduits;
• iii) introducing a liquid sample into the lumen of the conduit, the liquid sample comprising bacteria, a dye, and an antimicrobial agent;
• iv) disposing the conduit in a selected one of the plurality of holders;
• v) incubating the liquid sample in the lumen of the conduit for a predetermined period of time between about 2 hours and about 16 hours;
• vi) following the incubating of the liquid sample for the predetermined period of time, transmitting light from the at least one light source sequentially through the first end of the conduit, the liquid sample in the lumen, and the second end of the conduit to the at least one light detection device;
• vii) detecting the light emitted from the second end of the conduit using the at least one light detection device and outputting, from the at least one light detection device, a signal relating to a value of one or more components of the light emitted from the second end of the conduit;
• and
• viii) determining a difference between the value of the one or more components of the light emitted from the second end of the conduit to a control value, the difference relating to a sensitivity of the bacteria in the liquid sample to the antimicrobial agent.