Which method is used to identify anaerobes aside from packaged microsystems?

Gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) is a technique used to analyze and identify anaerobic bacteria based on the volatile fatty acids and other metabolites they produce. This method separates compounds in a gaseous state, allowing for the identification of specific metabolic byproducts associated with anaerobic bacteria. This is particularly useful because many anaerobes can be challenging to culture in traditional laboratory settings, making GLC a valuable tool for their identification.

In contrast, antimicrobial susceptibility testing is primarily used to determine the effectiveness of antibiotics against particular bacteria rather than to identify the bacteria themselves. Special staining techniques are helpful for visualizing certain cell types or features under a microscope, but they may not provide the specificity required for identifying anaerobes. Enzyme immunoassays are designed for detecting specific proteins or antigens and are more suited for identifying particular pathogens or their products rather than categorizing entire groups of bacteria like anaerobes.