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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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

These data were submitted to US FDA for IVD clearance of the database. We thank Hari Prakash Dwivedi for coordinating the work and reviewing the manuscript and Christine Bouchard for sequencing paperwork. The following reagent was obtained through the NIH Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources Repository, NIAID, NIH: Brucella melitensis, Strain 16M (NCTC 10094), NR-256

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Funding

This study was founded by Biomérieux.

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Author notes

  1. Marion Caillé

    Present address: MSD, Clermont-Ferrand, France

  2. Sandra S. Richter

    Present address: Medical Affairs, bioMérieux, Inc., Durham, NC, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. R&D Microbiology, bioMérieux sa, La Balme les Grottes, France

    Victoria Girard, Valérie Monnin, Delphine Giraud, Sophie Polsinelli & Marion Caillé

  2. Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Gary W. Procop, Marion Tuohy, Deborah Wilson & Sandra S. Richter

  3. ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA

    Katalin Kiss, Kimberly Clem & Nicholas Tolli

  4. Clinical Affairs, bioMérieux sa, Marcy L’Étoile, France

    Laurence Bridon

  5. Clinical Affairs, bioMérieux, Inc., St. Louis, MO, USA

    Constance Bradford & Sara Blamey

  6. R&D US Data Science, bioMérieux, Inc., Durham, NC, USA

    Jay Li

  7. R&D Microbiology, bioMérieux, Inc., St. Louis, MO, USA

    David H. Pincus

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  1. Victoria Girard
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Correspondence to Victoria Girard.

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Conflict of interest

Victoria Girard, Valérie Monnin, Delphine Giraud, Sophie Polsinelli, Sandra S. Richter, Laurence Bridon, Constance Bradford, Sara Blamey, Jay Li, and David H. Pincus are bioMérieux employees or were bioMérieux employees at the time of the study

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Girard, V., Monnin, V., Giraud, D. et al. 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. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 40, 1909–1917 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-021-04242-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-021-04242-1

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