British Society for Microbial Technology

Name:	British Society for Microbial Technology

Link:	http://www.bsmt.org.uk/welcome.php

Description:	The BSMT is a not-for-profit organisation of microbiologists working mainly in the NHS and Health Protection Agency as healthcare scientists and medical microbiologists. The society's aim is to promote an exchange of information on laboratory practices in clinical microbiology. The society was founded in 1985 by a group of colleagues from a widespread geographical area who had a common interest in antimicrobial sensitivity testing and who were concerned about the plethora of methods, the lack of acceptable controls and the need for validation of procedures and recommendations on interpretation and performance. With an increasing array of new antibacterial drugs, as well as novel idiosyncratic pathogens being recognised, there was a need for a forum to discuss and to attempt to identify and address these concerns. Since then, the BSMT has become broader in its interests, and the Annual Scientific Meeting has covered many different aspects of microbial technology and management.