Microbiology is one of the most labor-intensive disciplines within the clinical laboratory field, and its role is of vital importance to overall healthcare. It is well established that laboratory professionals are asked to do more with fewer resources and to constantly demonstrate the value of laboratory medicine in clinical outcomes. "As the demand for laboratory testing increases and reimbursement rates and qualified personnel dwindle at a rapid speed, COPAN is investing in developing comprehensive A.I. solutions to support and amplify the laboratories' ingenuity and maximize the use of their resources," stated Norman Sharples, CEO of COPAN Diagnostics, Inc. "Having worked in a clinical laboratory in the past, it is fascinating to see Microbiology at an interesting juxtaposition where traditional techniques, like planting and streaking on culture media, combine with incredible advances in Artificial Intelligence and digital plate reading. COPAN is staying at the forefront of this new exciting frontier for Microbiology," added Sharples. With the interest in A.I. in Microbiology increasing, COPAN is excited to support a new American Society for Microbiology (ASM) webinar series titled "Artificial Intelligence: Applications for the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory of Today."