The course of microbiological diagnosis is divided in three steps, i.e.

• (i) pre-analysis,
• (ii) analysis, and
• (iii) post-analysis.

Optimum performance of the later steps is based on the performance of the previous ones. Thus, if the pre-analytical step is performed with suboptimum quality, even the highest standards of laboratory quality management cannot compensate the initial flaws.

Therefore, my group research is focused especially on this initial step of sample acquisition to improve the overall quality of microbiological diagnosis.