Bruker MALDI Biotyper systems

Bruker MALDI Biotyper systems provide high-speed, high-confidence identification and taxonomical classification of bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Classification and identification are based on proteomic fingerprinting using high-throughput MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The accuracy and speed of the methods compare favourably to classical methods.

Two applications of the MALDI Biotyper have been recognised and published as Official Methods of Analysis SM (OMA) of AOAC INTERNATIONAL, for selected pathogen confirmation and identification of other bacteria from various agar plates, leading to two standardised methods. Together, AOAC 2017.09 (for the confirmation and identification of Salmonella spp., Cronobacter spp. and other gram-negative organisms) and AOAC 2017.10 (for Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria spp. and other gram-positive organisms) have been awarded the 2018 AOAC Method of the Year by the Official Methods Board of AOAC INTERNATIONAL.

The MALDI Biotyper has also been validated by MicroVal for the confirmation of several foodborne pathogens. The MicroVal committee has members from Europe and North America, including experts from food safety authorities, food testing laboratories and method developers. Together with MicroVal and the Lloyd’s certification body, Bruker has been an early adopter of the new technical rules of ISO/DIS 16140-6 for validation of confirmation and typing methods.

The AOAC Official Methods Board has determined that, based on their novel approach of confirming and identifying organisms, both new MALDI Biotyper Official Methods of AnalysisSM, AOAC 2017.09 and AOAC 2017.10, will receive the AOAC Method of the Year award.