The document discusses various methods of automation used in microbiology laboratories, including automation of specimen collection, transport, processing, microscopy, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. It describes several automated systems that have been developed to perform functions like automated staining, urine sediment analysis, specimen plating, bacterial identification using techniques like MALDI-TOF, VITEK and reaction-based systems. The document also provides examples of various automated equipment and their applications in microbiology laboratories.