MALDI-TOF MS experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a National Reference Laboratory

ABSTRACT Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) methodology has meant a true revolution in clinical microbiology, optimizing diagnosis times through reliable results in a matter of minutes, replacing phenotypic and molecular procedures in several cases. Today, two maj...

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Main Authors: Maria Florencia Rocca, Diego Danze, Gastón D´Angiolo, Paula Etcheverry, Claudia Martínez, Mónica Prieto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-05-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
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Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01677-24
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author Maria Florencia Rocca
Diego Danze
Gastón D´Angiolo
Paula Etcheverry
Claudia Martínez
Mónica Prieto
author_facet Maria Florencia Rocca
Diego Danze
Gastón D´Angiolo
Paula Etcheverry
Claudia Martínez
Mónica Prieto
author_sort Maria Florencia Rocca
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) methodology has meant a true revolution in clinical microbiology, optimizing diagnosis times through reliable results in a matter of minutes, replacing phenotypic and molecular procedures in several cases. Today, two major platforms are commercially available, the MALDI Biotyper (Bruker Daltonics Inc., Bremen, Germany) and the VITEKMS PRIME (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France). In Argentina, the pioneering adoption of this technology took place at the National Reference Laboratory of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, then a strategic network has emerged to disseminate the experience to all clinical laboratories utilizing MALDI-TOF and oversee their operational efficacy. In this study, we developed a strictly in parallel comparative evaluation of the performance of the Microflex LT and the next generation VITEK MS PRIME for the identification of a large number of complex microorganisms with clinical relevance, based on updated platforms and databases. The overall agreement of correct identifications of both systems was 98.23%, with the same or better resolution as rRNA gene sequencing but with cheaper and faster. Each has its advantages and limitations, so it will be up to each individual laboratory to evaluate which one is most appropriate for its workflow. Once purchased, both platforms represent enormous cost savings in supplies and labor in any laboratory.IMPORTANCEThis work detailed a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) experience with the identification of a large set of complex microorganisms using two devices in the settings of a National Reference Laboratory. In Argentina, we coordinate the national network of mass spectrometry (MS), an extended work group formed in year 2015 that includes all public and private laboratories that have incorporated the technology as a diagnostic tool through the different commercial platforms available on the market. At this time, as a National Reference Laboratory, we conducted this comprehensive assessment of MALDI-TOF MS performance for the identification of diverse bacteria, specifically targeting pathogens of significant public health concern. During investigation, we identified certain limitations inherent to the methodology and the results obtained have considerable impact that must be transferred to the users of MS platforms in clinical laboratories all over the world.
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spelling doaj-art-9a495f3984d64c2ebb70218f1ef1251f2025-08-20T02:14:44ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-05-0113510.1128/spectrum.01677-24MALDI-TOF MS experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a National Reference LaboratoryMaria Florencia Rocca0Diego Danze1Gastón D´Angiolo2Paula Etcheverry3Claudia Martínez4Mónica Prieto5Servicio Bacteriología Especial, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, CABA, ArgentinaRed Nacional de Espectrometría de Masas aplicada a la Microbiología Clínica ReNaEM, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaServicio Bacteriología Especial, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, CABA, ArgentinaServicio Bacteriología Especial, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, CABA, ArgentinaServicio Bacteriología Especial, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, CABA, ArgentinaServicio Bacteriología Especial, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas, ANLIS Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, CABA, ArgentinaABSTRACT Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) methodology has meant a true revolution in clinical microbiology, optimizing diagnosis times through reliable results in a matter of minutes, replacing phenotypic and molecular procedures in several cases. Today, two major platforms are commercially available, the MALDI Biotyper (Bruker Daltonics Inc., Bremen, Germany) and the VITEKMS PRIME (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France). In Argentina, the pioneering adoption of this technology took place at the National Reference Laboratory of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, then a strategic network has emerged to disseminate the experience to all clinical laboratories utilizing MALDI-TOF and oversee their operational efficacy. In this study, we developed a strictly in parallel comparative evaluation of the performance of the Microflex LT and the next generation VITEK MS PRIME for the identification of a large number of complex microorganisms with clinical relevance, based on updated platforms and databases. The overall agreement of correct identifications of both systems was 98.23%, with the same or better resolution as rRNA gene sequencing but with cheaper and faster. Each has its advantages and limitations, so it will be up to each individual laboratory to evaluate which one is most appropriate for its workflow. Once purchased, both platforms represent enormous cost savings in supplies and labor in any laboratory.IMPORTANCEThis work detailed a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) experience with the identification of a large set of complex microorganisms using two devices in the settings of a National Reference Laboratory. In Argentina, we coordinate the national network of mass spectrometry (MS), an extended work group formed in year 2015 that includes all public and private laboratories that have incorporated the technology as a diagnostic tool through the different commercial platforms available on the market. At this time, as a National Reference Laboratory, we conducted this comprehensive assessment of MALDI-TOF MS performance for the identification of diverse bacteria, specifically targeting pathogens of significant public health concern. During investigation, we identified certain limitations inherent to the methodology and the results obtained have considerable impact that must be transferred to the users of MS platforms in clinical laboratories all over the world.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01677-24MALDI-TOFmass spectrometryverificationunusual pathogenRENAEMnetwork
spellingShingle Maria Florencia Rocca
Diego Danze
Gastón D´Angiolo
Paula Etcheverry
Claudia Martínez
Mónica Prieto
MALDI-TOF MS experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a National Reference Laboratory
Microbiology Spectrum
MALDI-TOF
mass spectrometry
verification
unusual pathogen
RENAEM
network
title MALDI-TOF MS experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a National Reference Laboratory
title_full MALDI-TOF MS experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a National Reference Laboratory
title_fullStr MALDI-TOF MS experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a National Reference Laboratory
title_full_unstemmed MALDI-TOF MS experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a National Reference Laboratory
title_short MALDI-TOF MS experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a National Reference Laboratory
title_sort maldi tof ms experience with the identification of complex microorganisms using two devices in a national reference laboratory
topic MALDI-TOF
mass spectrometry
verification
unusual pathogen
RENAEM
network
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01677-24
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