ABSTRACT
Microbiologists have been identifying organisms since Louis Pasteur in the 1800s first realized that, in addition to producing the fine wines of France, microorganisms also caused disease. Since that time, it appears is if the chief goal of diagnostic microbiology, has been to come up with the one test that would separate the helpful organisms from the harmful ones. Unfortunately, it seems that every time someone developed this ultimate test, eventually someone else would discover that there was overlap. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the major methods being used to identify microorganisms in the laboratory during the 19th and 20th centuries. Diagnostic methods in use in the 21st century will be reviewed in Chapter 11.
