Optimization of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis for bacterial identification.

ABSTRACT: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a relatively new addition to the clinical microbiology laboratory. The performance of the MALDI Biotyper system (Bruker Daltonics) was compared to those of phenotypic and genotypic identification methods for 690 routine and referred clinical isolates representing 102 genera and 225 unique species. We systematically compared direct-smear and extraction methods on a taxonomically diverse collection of isolates. The optimal score thresholds for bacterial identification were determined, and an approach to address multiple divergent results above these thresholds was evaluated. Analysis of identification scores revealed optimal species- and genus-level identification thresholds of 1.9 and 1.7, with 91

SUBMITTER: Khot PD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3502975 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature