The bacteria identification automate in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry system

Abstract

The identification of pathogenic bacteria in clinical microbiology laboratory tested by the conventional biochemical method is complicated and time consuming.  The process of identification takes longer than one day since bacteria colonies from a specimen culture plate are picked for testing.  Later, the establishment of an automated bacteria identification method has a less complicated procedure.  However, an identification time takes approximately 3 - 36 hours because the identification procedure depends on bacteria growth.  Nevertheless, a new identification method that changes substrate types or analyzes a bacterial fatty acid pattern reduces the identification time to 1 - 4 hours.  Recently, the bacteria identification automate in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) system which identifies a bacteria intact colony, from the standard clinical specimen culture method, by adding only the matrix reduces the identification time to lower than 1 minute.  The result of identification is analyzed by comparison of the sample protein mass spectrum with the standard bacteria protein mass spectra in an up to date database which complied with the bacteria identification automate set.

Keywords: MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, Bacteria identification automate, Protein mass spectrum