Infrared thermography can detect previsual bacterial growth in a laboratory setting via metabolic heat detection.

Infrared thermography detects bacterial growth without the need for specialized temperature control facilities. The method is statistically robust and can be undertaken in situ, thus is highly versatile. These data support the application of infrared thermography in a laboratory, clinical and industrial setting for vegetative bacteria, thus may become into an important methodology for the timely and straightforward detection of early-stage bacterial growth.