Bruker Develops Integrated Microbiology Workflow for MALDI Biotyper Microbial Identification and BD Phoenix Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing System

Bruker announced the completion of an integrated workflow using the Bruker MALDI Biotyper for microbial identification (ID) from cultures, and the BD Phoenix system for antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) at the 21st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

The ID and AST systems are integrated via the BD EpiCenter data management system. The workflow integration has been validated at a number of pilot sites in Europe and in the U.S., including public and private laboratories such as Dynacare (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Klinikum Bayreuth (Germany), Synlab Weiden (Germany), Synlab Augsburg (Germany) and the Vatican Hospital (Rome, Italy).

The integrated workflow begins with ordering the MALDI Biotyper ID and BD Phoenix AST using the customer's Laboratory Information System (LIS). The order is automatically transferred to the BD EpiCenter middleware and can be used for worklist management. Barcode labels containing the laboratory accession and isolate number can be automatically printed for the BD Phoenix and MALDI Biotyper samples. The sample location on the MALDI Biotyper plate is mapped using a pre-printed template and BD EpiCenter barcode labels. The barcodes are scanned into the MALDI Biotyper software for accurate specimen tracking. The AST and ID samples are then each processed according to their respective protocols.

Upon completion of the microbial ID, the MALDI Biotyper results and confidence values are automatically transferred to BD EpiCenter over a network interface, and the ID is matched to the AST results produced by BD Phoenix. All results are analyzed by the BD Xpert system for quality assurance and alerting. Completed results are reviewed and released for review by the clinicians and subsequently to the LIS.

Bruker further noted it is also working with BD Diagnostics on an integrated blood culture workflow, using the BD BACTEC blood culture system, the Bruker MALDI SepsiTyper Kit for sample preparation directly from positive BD blood culture bottles prior to rapid MALDI Biotyper ID.

Bruker's proprietary MALDI Biotyper solution enables molecular identification, taxonomical classification or dereplication of microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Classification and identification of microorganisms is achieved using proteomic fingerprinting by high-throughput MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Applications include clinical routine microbial identification, environmental and pharmaceutical analysis, taxonomical research, food and consumer product processing and quality control, as well as marine microbiology.

Bruker's MALDI Biotyper method requires minimal sample preparation efforts and offers low consumables cost per sample. The MALDI Biotyper is available in a research-use-only version, as well as in an IVD-CE version according to EU directive EC/98/79 in certain European countries. The MALDI SepsiTyper Kit is presently for research use only.