EUCAST – European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing

EUCAST is a standing committee jointly organized by ESCMID, ECDC and European national breakpoint committees. The Steering Committee is the decision making body. It is supported by a General Committee with representatives from European countries, FESCI and ISC. The Steering Committee also consults experts within the fields of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, pharmaceutical companies and susceptibility testing device manufacturers on EUCAST proposals.

EUCAST Disk Diffusion Test

During 2009-2010 EUCAST is developing a disk diffusion test for routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The test is based on MH-agar for non-fastidious organisms and on MH-agar with 5% defibrinated horse blood and 20 mg/L β-NAD (MH-F) for fastidious microorganisms (streptococci, H influenzae and others).

EUCAST is currently inviting participants in the development.

EUCAST has produced QC guidance for a selection of QC strains for this European disk diffusion test.

TCS manufacture the recommended strains as Selectrol discs - MM02, MM10, MM14, MM18, MM95 and has introduced MM100 to complete the list.

For more information please visit www.eucast.org.