title: The value of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry in identifying clinically relevant bacteria: a comparison with automated microbiology system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been developed as a new-type soft ionization mass spectrometry in the recent year. Increasing number of clinical microbiological laboratories consider it as an innovate approach for bacterial identification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 876 clinical strains, comprising 52 species in 27 genus, were obtained from Fudan University Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital. We compared the identification accuracy of the Vitek MS system (bioMerieux, Marcy l'Etoile) to other conventional methods for bacterial identification. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed as a reference identification method in cases of discrepant results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Vitek MS system consistently produced accurate results within minutes of loading, while conventional methods required several hours to produce identification results. Among the 876 isolates, the overall performance of Vitek MS was significantly better than the conventional method both for correct species identification (830, 94.7% vs. 746, 85.2%, respectively, P=0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to traditional identification methods, MALDI-TOF MS is a rapid, accurate and economical technique to enhance the clinical value of microorganism identification.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China ; 2 State Key laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China ; 2 State Key laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Bijie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China ; 2 State Key laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xuelian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China ; 2 State Key laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Shenglei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China ; 2 State Key laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Yuzhang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 20032, China ; 2 State Key laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xiangru
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
keywords: Mass spectrometry; bacteria; identification