MALDI-TOF Microbial Identification Service: AccuPRO-ID®
The most cost-effective proteotypic method testing service delivering fast, dependable microbial identification
The MALDI-TOF microbial identification testing process yields a unique protein spectral fingerprint that is then compared to the Accugenix® validated MALDI database for MALDI-TOF bacterial identification.
AccuPRO-ID is a cost-effective solution providing faster, more accurate results than outdated and risky phenotypic methods. Enhance your contamination control strategy with advanced microbial identification technology.
Seminar: Exploring MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry for Microbiology
Available for a limited time, this seminar evaluates the strengths and limitations of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as a reliable, compliant, and scalable option for identification of your environmental monitoring isolates.
Watch Now
The Benefits of AccuPRO-ID
Our comprehensive, validated, and frequently updated organism database, with over 17,500 entries, representing over 5,900 species, supports robust species-level bacterial and fungal identification. Benefits include:
- A reduction in time, labor, and internal costs via outsourcing
- Access to an extensive microbial library
- Same-day to five-day turnaround time from our globally harmonized Accugenix® laboratories
- cGMP compliance and ISO 17025-accredited process
- Superior identification andaccuracy compared to phenotypic methods
- Samples not identified with AccuPRO-ID® are sequenced free of charge with AccuGENX-ID®
Order Codes and Turnaround Times
| Service Description | Turnaround Time (TAT) | Test Code |
|---|---|---|
| AccuPRO-ID® MALDI-TOF bacterial identification and yeast identification service | Same-day | AccuPRO-ID-0 |
| 1-day | AccuPRO-ID-1 | |
| 2-day | AccuPRO-ID-2 | |
| 5-day | AccuPRO-ID-5 |
Accugenix® Sample Submission and Shipping
Submit and ship your bacterial samples via our Customer Web Portal in three simple steps.
Start here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About MALDI-TOF Bacterial Identification
-
What is mass spectrometry?
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique where chemical substances are identified by sorting gaseous ions in electric and magnetic fields according to mass-to-charge ratios. Accugenix uses MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for AccuPRO-ID microbial identification services.
-
What does the MALDI-TOF acronym stand for?
MALDI-TOF stands for Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight.
-
What is the MALDI-TOF microbial identification process?
The sample preparation process begins by smearing a small portion of the test colony onto a dedicated spot of a target plate to form an even layer of cells. The spot is overlaid with formic acid to lyse the cells and expose the proteins. The spots are then overlaid with a matrix solution, which co-crystallizes with the exposed proteins. A calibrator is also spotted with each MALDI run.
The target plate is inserted into the MALDI-TOF instrument. When the vacuum is reached, a laser fires down and ionizes the protein complexes. These break off and travel up the vacuum tube, where they are detected based on mass and charge. This representation is called the protein spectrum. The spectrum is compared to a library of known organisms, and the classification algorithm calculates a match score of how well the unknown spectrum matches the library entries. The match score is interpreted to determine if a species-level identification is achieved.
-
What are the sample requirements for a MALDI-TOF bacterial identification?
For best results, only freshly grown colonies containing actively dividing cells with intact proteins are subject to testing.
-
What MALDI-TOF system can be used to identify microbial organisms in the lab?
The Axcess® MALDI-TOF system for in-house microbiology testing is an ideal combination of best-in-class instrumentation and relevant microbial libraries.
-
How do I interpret the AccuPRO-ID Identification Report?
Explore our detailed AccuPRO-ID Identification Report Guide explaining each of the report elements.