Automated blood culture systems -- Bacteriology full automation -- Advanced phenotypic systems and instruments for microbial identification -- Phenotypic antimicrobial resistance techniques -- Rapid microbial antigen test -- Advanced Antibody Detection -- Host Response-Based Biomarkers -- Functional Assessment of Microbial Infections by Real Time Cell Analysis System -- Cellular Fatty Acid-Based Microbial Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing -- MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry -- Transcriptomic Techniques in Diagnostic Microbiology -- Metabolic Techniques in Diagnostic Microbiology -- Nucleic Acid Extraction and Enrichment -- Non-Amplified Probe-Based Microbial Detection and Identification -- Molecular Typing Techniques -- PCR and Derivatives -- Non-PCR Target Amplification Techniques -- Probe Amplification Techniques, LCR, CPT, REM -- Signal amplification techniques, bDNA, Invader, Digene -- Real-time and digital PCR for nucleic acid quantification -- Direct sequencing for amplification product identification -- Solid and suspension arrays amplification product detection and identification -- Amplification product real-time identification through FRET -- PCR Mass Spectrometry -- Nucleic acid amplicons detected and identified by magnetic resonance -- Techniques and methods for carryover contamination control.

In recent years, advanced molecular techniques in diagnostic microbiology have been revolutionizing the practice of clinical microbiology in the hospital setting. Molecular diagnostic testing in general and nucleic acid-based amplification methods in particular have been heralded as diagnostic tools for the new millennium. This third edition covers not only the most recent updates and advances, but details newly invented omic techniques, such as next generation sequencing. It is divided into two distinct volumes, with Volume 1 describing the techniques, and Volume 2 addressing their applications in the field. In addition, both volumes focus more so on the clinical relevance of the test results generated by these techniques than previous editions.