Limbach Laboratory Group Selects Bruker´s MALDI Biotyper for Microbial ID

Bruker Daltonics have announced a new framework agreement with the Limbach laboratory network, concerning microbial identification based on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

According to the agreement, Bruker Daltonics will be the exclusive provider of MALDI-TOF based microbial identification solutions for the Limbach network of more than 30 European clinical laboratories.

Since being introduced at the Labor Limbach headquarters in Heidelberg in 2007, the MALDI Biotyper has been established in a number of other laboratories in the Limbach association. The MALDI Biotyper is currently in use in Limbach clinical microbiology centers in Germany in Heidelberg, Koblenz, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Singen, Magdeburg and Nordhorn. After the signing of the new framework agreement, Bruker has received additional orders for MALDI Biotyper systems from the Limbach laboratories in Ravensburg and in Freiburg, and an additional system was ordered for Limbach site in Heidelberg.

The Limbach laboratory network intends to introduce this new molecular technology broadly as a very fast routine method for microbial identification in additional Limbach laboratories in Germany. Moreover, Bruker and Labor Limbach intend to jointly introduce the MALDI Biotyper in Poland via Limbach´s laboratories in Warsaw and Gdansk.

Dr. Anne-Marie Fahr, Head of Microbiology at Labor Limbach, commented: 'In contrast to previous introductions of other technologies, in the case of the MALDI Biotyper we have seen a very wide acceptance of this new approach nearly throughout our entire network. Bruker is the leading supplier of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry with a global support and service network, and is thus the reliable long-term partner that we were looking for in the Limbach association.'

Dr. Wolfgang Pusch, Vice President for Clinical Research Solutions & IVD at Bruker Daltonics, added: 'This exclusive framework agreement is a major step ahead into a new era of fast molecular identification in clinical microbiology. The last two years have shown the fundamental advantages of our MALDI Biotyper approach for microbial identification, i.e. higher specificity, faster time-to-result and lower consumables costs. Moreover, the MALDI Biotyper has proven to be robust and easy to use in demanding environments. We are very pleased that our MALDI Biotyper fulfils the high expectations of leading clinical laboratories like the Labor Limbach association.'