Automated rapid blood culture sensor system based on diode laser wavelength-modulation spectroscopy for microbial growth analysis

•An automated blood culture system was developed for microbial growth analysis.•The system is based on diode laser wavelength-modulation spectroscopy (DLWMS).•An optical sensing core module was designed to realize automated rapid CO2 detection.•A 2-month field test was carried out in the Jinhua Guangfu hospital, Jinhua, China.•The developed sensor system exhibits an excellent accuracy with short detection time.