Bactima MIC / BMQ Interpreter now available offline as a Progressive Web App

The Bactima website and its MIC / BMQ Interpreter can now be installed on your phone, tablet, or computer as a Progressive Web App (PWA). Once installed, it works fully offline — no internet connection is required to look up organisms, antimicrobials, breakpoints, or to calculate S / I / R and BMQ values at the bench.

How to install on iPhone / iPad (iOS & iPadOS)

1. Open Safari (not Chrome or Firefox) and go to bactima.com.
2. Tap the Share icon (square with an upward arrow) at the bottom of the screen.
3. Scroll down and tap "Add to Home Screen".
4. Confirm the name "Bactima" and tap Add.
5. Open the app once while online so it can cache all data for offline use.

How to install on Android (Samsung, Pixel, etc.)

1. Open Google Chrome and go to bactima.com.
2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right.
3. Tap "Install app" or "Add to Home screen".
4. Confirm to install — a signed Google WebAPK will be created.
5. Launch Bactima once with internet on to cache the full database for offline use.

How to install on Windows / macOS / Linux Desktop

1. Open Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Brave.
2. Visit bactima.com.
3. Click the install icon in the address bar (or menu → "Install Bactima").
4. The app opens in its own window and is added to your Start menu / Applications / Dock.

⚠️ Caution — do NOT install from these browsers:

• Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, DuckDuckGo, Opera on iPhone / iPad — Apple restricts PWA installation on iOS to Safari only. Installing from any other iOS browser only creates a bookmark that will not work offline.
• Firefox on Android — installs a plain shortcut without full offline support; use Chrome instead.
• In-app browsers inside Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Gmail, etc. — these cannot install PWAs. Open the site in your real browser (Safari on iOS, Chrome on Android) first.
• Private / Incognito mode on any browser — storage is cleared on exit, so offline caching will not persist.

After installation, launch Bactima at least once while connected to the internet. This lets the app download the WHONET breakpoint database, images, and clinical guides into local storage. From then on, the entire MIC / BMQ Interpreter and reference material work without any network — ideal for laboratory benches, ward rounds, and field settings.