Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) is a powerful method for identifying microorganisms.
As utilised by Bruker in its MALDI Biotyper, it becomes a fast and accurate research tool that can identify a whole range of microorganisms, bacteria and some fungi and animals, down to the species level.
The system works by measuring proteins, found in abundance in all microorganisms, and then identifying them in line with patterns of occurrence stored in the Biotyper’s open database.
The result is a robust and easy-to-use instrument that is designed to be much faster than traditional methods.
This is a true compact benchtop system, based on the Flex Series of MALDI-TOF MS instruments.
The silent operation is the result of WhisperMode operation that eliminates noisy and vibration-causing oil-based vacuum pumps to produce a system that is also virtually maintenance free.
The ion source is also unique, being automated and self-cleaning and ensures peak performance can be maintained without any costly and time-consuming requirement to break the vacuum.
Smart Spectra acquisition minimises the amount of sample needed to generate a signal, accelerating data gathering resulting in the analysis of 96 samples in well under 30 minutes.
Furthermore, with the FDA-cleared, MALDI Biotyper CA System gram-negative bacterial colonies cultured from human specimens can be identified.
An optional fully validated workflow (according to European Union IVD Directive 98/79/EC) is additionally available that utilises most of the same strains you will find within the combined database.
For more information about the MALDI Biotyper, please visit the Bruker website here.
