Synlab Chooses MALDI Biotyper for Molecular Microbial Identification

At the recent KMIS meeting (Klinisch-Mikrobiologisch-Infektiologisches Symposium), Bruker Daltonics announced a framework agreement with Synlab concerning molecular microbial identification based on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Synlab is a European private diagnostic laboratory association, and Bruker Daltonics is the worldwide leading provider of mass spectrometry-based microorganism identification solutions. Synlab currently has more than 70 diagnostic laboratories in Germany and other European countries.

Synlab and Bruker have concluded a long-term partnership agreement in order to equip the laboratories of the Synlab association exclusively with the MALDI Biotyper system for fast and reliable molecular microbial identification. The MALDI Biotyper is currently already in routine use in Synlab's clinical microbiology centers in Trier, Weiden and Dachau in Germany. Moreover, Bruker and Synlab intend to further enlarge and refine the MALDI Biotyper reference library using well defined clinical isolates from the daily microbiology routine work of the Synlab laboratories.

The MALDI Biotyper is integrated into the Synlab laboratories' microbiology workflow, combining fast molecular identification with conventional antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). The MALDI Biotyper reports the identification results into the existing laboratory information systems (LIS). Integration with LIS MCS , Medat and Vision4health has already been established for Synlab, while integration with other LIS providers is also possible.

Dr. Ulrich Knipp, Technical Head of Microbiology at Synlab in Trier, commented: 'After evaluating the MALDI Biotyper very thoroughly within the Synlab group, we are convinced that Bruker Daltonics is the most reliable partner for microbial identification based on mass spectrometry, and is providing outstanding microbiological service and support. Bruker Daltonics is fully established in the clinical microbiology market, and the MALDI Biotyper fulfils our requirements for reliability and robustness. The MALDI Biotyper represents a clear milestone substantiating our high quality molecular microbiology diagnostics.'

Dr. Guido Mix, Director of Microbiology at Bruker Daltonics, added: 'We are very pleased that our MALDI Biotyper fulfils the high demands of leading clinical laboratories like Synlab. Our framework contract with Synlab validates our efforts to provide comprehensive service and applications support to our customers by our dedicated microbiologists, fully developed technicians network and dedicated IT specialists for integration into various laboratory information systems (LIS).'