Mérieux NutriSciences has recently made a new service available for the identification of bacteria based on MALDI-TOF technology.

The precise identification of microbial genus and species is crucial to characterize the microbial ecology and monitor potential contaminations. Due to the extensive diversity of the microbial world, state-of-the-art techniques are necessary to identify all the species. In addition to RNA 16S or D2LSU partial sequencing of microorganisms, Mérieux NutriSciences has validated the Maldi-TOF method and enriched its database.

The Maldi-TOF technique allows a very accurate and fast identification of isolates, with results available within a few hours.  The characteristic patterns produced by highly abundant proteins present in the isolate are used to reliably identify a particular microorganism by matching the respective pattern with Mérieux NutriSciences’ extensive open database to determine the identity of the microorganism down to the species level.

The method is available now and will shortly be ISO 17025 accredited.