Crossword Genius

Like micro-organisms I detected in messy lab crate (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bacterial

'like micro-organisms' is the definition.

'i detected in messy lab crate' is the wordplay.
'detected in' indicates putting letters inside.
'messy' indicates an anagram.
'lab'+'crate'='labcrate'
'labcrate' anagrammed gives 'bacteral'.
'i' inserted within 'bacteral' is 'BACTERIAL'.

(Another definition for bacterial that I've seen is " 6 (anag)".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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