User manual
Glossary
Glossary-2 VITEK
®
 2 Instrument User Manual
510731-10EN1
Bar Code An alphanumeric interface identifier label affixed to each 
VITEK
®
 2 test card. The bar code contains the card’s test type, 
lot number, and expiration date, which is entered either by the 
SCS subsystem by bar code wanding, or when the test card’s 
bar code label is read by the bar code reader inside of the 
VITEK
®
 2 instrument. 
Boat The tray-like device that carries the cassette around the 
instrument. It forms the bottom of the vacuum chamber and 
helps to capture any spills. It is removable for cleaning.
Button Memory A Button Memory is a microchip located in a clip underneath 
the Cassette that stores test card information that is entered at 
the Smart Carrier Station. During the entry cycle of processing, 
the data is transferred to the workstation computer by the 
button memory reader.
Button Memory Reader A magnetic data storage device that reads the button memory 
and sends data entered at the Smart Carrier Station to the 
VITEK
®
 2 workstation computer.
Cannula A small tube located in the saline dispensing chamber that is 
inserted into the saline bag. Also known as the “bag spike”.
Card Transport System Moves the test cards among the stations within the VITEK
®
 2 
instrument. It consists of the cassette tray, boat, cassette 
loading and unloading station, electromechanical arms, card 
ejectors, and the waste collector station. 
Carousel The rotating incubator section, which holds up to 60 test cards 
per incubator.
Cassette The cassette is a card and test tube carrier that holds up to 15 
tests. It is used for sample preparation and processing inside 
the instrument. It can contain a button memory chip that is 
used to transfer information from the Smart Carrier Station to 
the VITEK
®
 2 Workstation computer.
CPU Central Processing Unit, the electronics of the personal 
computers and workstations.
Dispenser Dispenses 2.5 mL of 0.45% saline into an empty susceptibility 
card test tube. This system includes a saline dispensing 
system, 1,000 mL bag of sterile saline and a “fixed volume” 
saline dispenser tube.










