From sample to species: Automated MALDI-TOF MS workflows for streamlined bacterial identification

Identifying bacteria accurately and efficiently is essential in numerous fields, from ensuring food safety to monitoring environmental health and diagnosing infections. Traditional methods often lack specificity and require significant time and labor.

MALDI-TOF MS has emerged as a powerful technique for bacterial identification, however preparing samples for this method can be a bottleneck. In this application note, CTC Analytics investigates automated bacterial sample preparation for MALDI-TOF MS using the PAL System robotic platform, with the aim of streamlining workflows and boosting reliability.