Multicenter evaluation of the VITEK MS matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry system for identification of bacteria, including Brucella, and yeasts

The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has proven to be rapid and accurate for the majority of clinical isolates. Some gaps remain concerning rare, emerging, or highly pathogenic species, showing the need to continuously expand the databases. In this multicenter study, we evaluated the accuracy of the VITEK MS v3.2 database in identifying 1172 unique isolates compared to identification by DNA sequence analysis. A total of 93.6% of the isolates were identified to species or group/complex level. A remaining 5.2% of the isolates were identified to the genus level. Forty tests gave a result of no identification (0.9%) and 12 tests (0.3%) gave a discordant identification compared to the reference identification. VITEK MS is also the first MALDI-TOF MS system that is able to delineate the four members of the Acinetobacter baumannii complex at species level without any specific protocol or special analysis method. These findings demonstrate that the VITEK MS v3.2 database is highly accurate for the identification of bacteria and fungi encountered in the clinical laboratory as well as emerging species like Candida auris and the highly pathogenic Brucella species.

Automated summary

The use of MALDI-TOF for clinical isolates has been proven to be rapid and accurate, with the VITEK MS v3.2 database showing high accuracy in identifying a wide range of isolates. The study revealed that the majority of isolates were identified to species or group level, with a small percentage of isolates identified only to the genus level. The ability of VITEK MS to identify various bacteria and fungi, including emerging and highly pathogenic species, highlights its potential as a valuable tool in clinical laboratories.