Changing Food Microbiology

MALDI Biotyper®
AOAC-OMA & ISO 16140-part 6 validated

Innovation with Integrity

GP
 Fast, easy
and accurate
microbial
confirmation

At your
fingertips

The MALDI Biotyper story: a journey of innovation Accurate fingerprint matching to

leading to a paradigm shift identify the unknown

Over two decades ago, it all started with a visionary dream - one with The MALDI Biotyper operates based on
the audacious goal of revolutionizing the microbiology landscape. This Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization
dream ignited a journey of relentless innovation, pushing boundaries Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectro-
and reimagining the possibilities within reach. At the core of this metry. The principle involves creating a pro-
transformative quest lies the MALDI Biotyper.
teomic fingerprint spectrum of the unknown
microorganism starting from colony material.
Bruker leveraged its extensive experience to bring forth the
groundbreaking MALDI Biotyper System. This revolutionary technology The unique pattern of this fingerprint is then
stands as a testament to our commitment to pushing the limits of matched to reference spectra of thousands
what‘s achievable. The MALDI Biotyper empowers microbiology of microorganisms, stored in the heart of the
laboratories globally, offering a seamless, reliable, and expeditious system, the reference library.
microbial identification solution for a diverse array of gram-negative and
gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, and molds. Operating as a user-friendly
yet powerful benchtop system, it has changed microbiology.

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Meeting your microbial confirmation
and identification demands

Typical food industry bacteria, yeast and molds, covered by the MALDI Biotyper

Milk & Dairy Meat & Egg

Lactococcus, Salmonella,
Lactobacillus, Campylobacter,
Staphylococcus, Listeria, E. coli, Listeria,
Salmonella, Cronobacter, Staphylococcus, Yersinia
Brucella

Fruits & Vegetables Cocoa & Confectionary

E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli,
Leuconostoc, Salmonella, Staphylococcus,
Enterobacter, Klebsiella Aspergillus, Penicillium

Beverages Drinking Water

Alicyclobacillus, Legionella, E.coli,
Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas,
Pediococcus, Enterococcus,
Zymomonas, Candida, Alcaligenes, Lelliottia,
Saccharomyces Campylobacter

Probiotics and Starter Veterinary

Cultures Salmonella,
Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus,
Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Candida,
Streptococcus, E. coli, Campylobacter
Saccharomyces,
Propionibacterium

Flour & Milling Seafood

Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Vibrio,
Bacillus, Aspergillus, Salmonella,
Penicillium Streptococcus,
Aeromonas

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 AOAC-OMA & ISO 16140-part 6
validated for food microbiology
The AOAC-OMA (Official Method of Analysis by AOAC International)
and ISO 16140-part 6 (MicroVal) validation studies have clearly shown
the reliability and reproducibility of the MALDI Biotyper. Awarded by
AOAC International
The MicroVal certificates, issued in 2018 and renewed in 2022, have
as Method of the
recently been expanded by the certification body to include now as
well the newest MALDI Biotyper sirius systems and the latest MBT Year 2018
Compass HT software version.

The certificates and the reports of the ISO 16140-part 6 validation

studies are available on www.microval.org.

The AOAC-OMA #2017.09 and AOAC-OMA #2017.10 protocols are

available on www.eoma.aoac.org.

The MALDI Biotyper is the US FSIS recommended system for

confirmation of presumptive positive Salmonella and Listeria.

Agars used in evaluation

Analyte Certification Body Claim
(selective and non-selective)

Cronobacter MicroVal Certificate Confirmation of Cronobacter TSA, ESIA, CCI

N° 2017LR72 from various agar plates

Salmonella MicroVal Certificate Confirmation of Salmonella TSA, XLD, BGA, RAPID’Sal-

N° 2017LR73 from various agar plates monella, Brilliance Salmonella,
ASAP, CASE Agar

Campylobacter MicroVal Certificate Confirmation of Campylobacter CBA, mCCDA, RCA, CCA,

N° 2017LR74 from various agar plates CampyFood, RAPID’Campylo-
bacter

Listeria spp. & MicroVal Certificate Confirmation of Listeria spp. & TSYEA, Oxford and modified
Listeria N° 2017LR75 Listeria monocytogenes Oxford, OAA, PALCAM,
monocytogenes from various agar plates RAPID’L. mono

Gram-negative AOAC OMA #2017.09 Confirmation and Identification of Equivalent to the Microval list
organisms Salmonella spp., Cronobacter spp.,
Campylobacter spp., and other
gram-negative organisms

Gram-positive AOAC OMA #2017.10 Confirmation and Identification Equivalent to the Microval list
organisms of Listeria monocytogenes and
Listeria spp., and other gram-positive
organisms

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The original
Often imitated, never duplicated

Unequaled speed for fast and Unmatched efficiency with a large reference library
actionable results coverage

Analyze 95 isolates + 1 QC sample in Identify more than 4,700 gram-positive and gram-negative
~5 minutes bacteria, yeasts and molds

Get instant results at a glance, no need Analyze filamentous fungi directly from agar with the easy MyT
to wait for the end of the run method and a dedicated library

Get your confirmation results within Enable high-confidence mycobacteria identification with a
minutes, starting from agar plates dedicated library and workflow including safe sample handling

Increase the identification power with our regular updates of

reference libraries to meet expanding needs

Create your own library entries for special in-house analysis projects

Confirm Listeria monocytogenes reliably down to the species level

Validations & Certificates for confirmation of foodborne

pathogens

AOAC-OMA (Official Method of Analysis by AOAC International)

ISO 16140-part 6 MicroVal Certificates

US FSIS recommended system

The right fit for your lab

Benefit from low training efforts, with a user-friendly

software-guided workflow

Focus on results while relying on the hands-free IDealTune™

autotuning feature - no extra cost, effort or user intervention
required

Minimize maintenance with the integrated source cleaning,

activated with a few mouse clicks

Workflow solutions

Streamline your workflow with the MBT FAST™ Shuttle,

MBT Pilot ® System, MBT Galaxy ® GP System , MBT Pathfinder ® GP
and Feeder GP

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 The beating heart of the system

Accurate fingerprint matching providing identification A reference library covering thou-

results you need to “stay ahead of the game” sands of bacteria and yeast

Identification is based on matching the unique proteomic fingerprint Access a library covering thousands of
spectrum of the unknown microorganism to a huge collection of gram-positive/negative bacteria and yeast
reference spectra
Each reference library entry is based on
Our continuously evolving library that keeps pace with emerging
multiple measurements of a single defined
microorganisms helps you to stay ahead
strain, safeguarding true biological variability
We listen to and empower our customers with regular updates of
relevant organisms into our powerful “fingerprint” library This library structure and powerful algo-
rithms simplify expansion and validation of
the library

Candida auris

x104
Intens. [a.u.]

0 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000

m/z

A mighty solution for molds The key to differentiation of closely

related Listeria species
The MBT HT Filamentous Fungi Module includes a dedicated
reference spectrum library, facilitating the identification of hundreds The integrated MBT HT Subtyping Module
of filamentous fungi species/species groups automatically enables the differentiation of
L. monocytogenes from the other closely
The easy yet powerful Mycelium Transfer (MyT) sample preparation
related Listeria species, by looking for certain
procedure enables a high identification success rate
typical marker peaks.
The workflow cleverly uses the surface structure of the MBT
Biotarget 96 to break the rigid cells walls, contributing to This enables food microbiology laboratories
accurate identification to implement routine confirmation of
Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes in the
daily workflow, directly from culture, without
High confidence mycobacteria identification any major effort. Additionally, the identification
of other Listeria species is provided: L. grayi,
A dedicated MBT Mycobacteria Kit enables a safe and L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. seeligeri and
standardized sample preparation workflow for Mycobacterium spp. L. welshimeri.
cultivated in liquid as well as on solid media
Create custom libraries
Combined with the kit, the MBT HT Mycobacteria Module
provides a comprehensive solution covering the majority of the Laboratories that need to create their own
currently known mycobacteria species libraries can make use of software tools to
easily compile customized reference library
entries.
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Easy workflow: simplicity meets speed

Bacteria, yeast or mold:

an easy workflow for all

1 isolate ~20 seconds, 95 isolates + 1 QC sample < 20 min

Efficient and user-friendly

Fully traceable streamlined workflow with

a few simple steps
Add target plate to a MALDI Biotyper project list
Typically starting from an isolated single
colony from a culture plate

Minimal hands-on time per isolate (only 20

seconds for most microorganisms)

Dedicated microbiology software Select an isolated colony

Hands-on time:
Software-guided workflows provided by
the MBT Compass HT Industry software
deliver clear and fast results

Rapid analysis of 95 isolates and 1 QC

sample yields a complete identification
report in ~5 minutes
Transfer sample onto the target plate and add matrix
Identification results are presented in an Candida auris

easy-to-interpret ‘traffic light’ color scheme x104

Intens. [a.u.]

Instant result display on the screen, no need

even to wait for the final report
2

95 isolates + 1 QC sample ~5 min

1

0 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000

m/z

MALDI-TOF spectrum automatically generated by the software

Faster than ever Spectrum instantly matched against the reference library to give
identification
Sample preparation hands-on time:
1 isolate ~20 seconds Range Interpretation
95 isolates < 20 min
2.00 - 3.00 High Confidence Identification
System analysis time to ID result: 1.70 - 1.99 Low Confidence Identification
95 isolates + 1 QC sample ~ 5 min
0.00 - 1.69 No Organism Identification Possible

Easy result reporting with “traffic light” color scheme

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 One system - countless answers

Food Quality
Fast identification of microbial contaminants or spoilage
organisms, technological strains and good bacteria during
quality control
Accurate quality controls along the fermentation and ripening pro-
cesses, or during storage, are fundamental to guarantee the stability of
starters and the absence of unexpected microbial contaminants. This
is crucial to ensure the organoleptic qualities or the probiotic benefits
of your fermented products. Food Quality
Reliable identification of microbial spoilers reveals their heat resistance
and growth parameters. This helps in optimizing food formulations,
production processes and storage conditions to prevent microbial
growth. In addition, a relevant screening plan of raw materials and
other ingredients can easily be developed.

Environment & Hygiene monitoring

Fast identification of microbes in food and veterinary
processing environments, and efficacy-control of general
cleaning and sanitation Meat
Surface sampling and related colony counts help in controlling
potential biofilm development. However, identifying the involved
bacteria is usually key to establishing appropriate corrective plans.
Processing plant personnel or small animals (e.g. rodent pests,
or insects) are also potential contamination sources in the food
processing facility in many respects.
Environmental swabbing involves the microbiological testing of
food preparation surfaces, water tanks, storage facilities, soils and
ceilings of breeding facilities, equipment and utensils, using various
swab techniques to find out if pathogens are present. It is also used Beverages
to verify whether a food business’ cleaning and sanitation programs
are effective (known as cleaning verification).

Dairy

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 Decision-making driven by
real-time results

Food Safety
Fast confirmation of pathogens
Using the same workflow and the same
consumables, confirmation of Salmonella
Environmental & spp., Cronobacter spp., Campylobacter spp.,
Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes
Hygiene Monitoring can reliably be performed in no time, from
various agar plates. The flexible and low-cost
workflow encourages convenient testing of
multiple colonies in one run, gaining crucial
time for confirmation.
The AOAC-OMA and ISO 16140-part 6
validation allows confirmation of the above-
mentioned pathogens and quality indicators
from validated culture media. Furthermore,
the AOAC-OMA allows identification of
Food Safety bacterial isolates from any of the validated
culture media mentioned for isolation of
foodborne pathogens and quality indicators.

Confirmation and identification

available within minutes
A fast confirmation result allows for timely
actions, such as food batch withdrawal or
release of safe food batches.
Implementing the system in the laboratory
workflow can directly translate to significant
Seafood cost savings by accelerated testing along the
entire process chain.

One system – countless answers

The MALDI Biotyper system can be
employed in all of these different application
fields with one single easy workflow for bac-
Poultry teria, yeasts and molds, providing rapid and
reliable identification of positive microflora
and microbial contaminants. The results can
then automatically be transferred to the LIMS.
In addition to using the standard MALDI
Biotyper Reference Library, the open concept
of the system offers the flexibility to build
your own reference library with your starter
cultures or site-specific contaminants.

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 The magic behind hassle-free operation

Years of experience condensed in a benchtop system Optimal performance secured by

zero-effort IDealTuneTM
The high performance and tailored design of the MALDI Biotyper
are rooted in over 30 years of Bruker’s in-house MALDI-TOF Experience peak performance without the
experience, applied to filling a gap in microbial analysis. hassle - thanks to automated tuning!
Crafting a state-of-the-art and groundbreaking system demands
extensive expertise and a commitment to innovation. Unlike merely No extra tuning samples
copying existing systems, the development of the MALDI Biotyper No extra time
reflects a dedication to pioneering advancements in technology, No extra costs
ensuring that it stands as a must-have in the field of microbiology. Focus on results!
Explore the magic behind the system’s speed, resolution and
performance.

Unequaled Time-to-Result

With Smart Spectra Acquisition™, data generation is accelerated by

minimizing the number of laser shots per sample needed to acquire
a meaningful spectrum. Besides saving time, this also allows an
optimal exploitation of the laser lifetime.

The analysis speed is further dramatically boosted by the power

of the MBT Compass HT Industry software, resulting in identification
results popping up simultaneously with spectra acquisition,
one by one, without delay.

Resolution optimized for reliable

profile matching

Thanks to Bruker’s patented PAN™ resolution,

the compact MALDI Biotyper achieves an
optimal resolution over the relevant mass
range of the mass spectral profile acquired
from the unknown microorganisms.
This accuracy is crucial when it comes to
profile matching with thousands of reference
spectra, for reliable identification of micro-
organisms.

Continuous operation

The integrated ion source cleaning permits

continuous high performance with minimized
maintenance requirements. Cleaning the
source using the separate IR-laser is perfor-
med easily by a few clicks in the software,
without breaking vacuum.

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MALDI Biotyper GP System overview

Benchtop MALDI-TOF system

MALDI Biotyper® sirius GP System

Identification of gram +/- bacteria, yeasts Mycobacteria identification

(optional)
Software
MBT Compass HT Industry software, including the Integrated software module
MBT Library MBT HT Mycobacteria Module
MBT Library Extension, covering highly pathogenic species
MBT HT Subtyping Module Consumables
MBT Mycobacteria Kit
Consumables
Matrix HCCA, portioned
Bacterial Test Standard
MBT Biotarget 96 Filamentous fungi identification
(optional)

Integrated software module

MBT HT Filamentous Fungi Module

Workflow optimization & automation (optional)

MBT Shuttle ergonomic target holder

MBT FAST™ Shuttle for standardized and accelerated drying of matrix and other liquids
MBT Pilot® System for guided sample transfer
MBT Galaxy® System for contactless and automated reagent deposition
MBT Pathfinder® GP with Feeder GP option for standardized, documented and fully transparent MALDI target
preparation

Please contact your local Bruker sales representative for availability of the optional MBT system components in your country.

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 Consumables

Bacterial Test Standard (BTS)

BTS is an essential component of the MALDI Biotyper workflow

enabling constant high accuracy and optimal operation. This mass
calibration standard covers the complete mass range necessary for
precise microbial identifications. It furthermore serves as integrated
quality control for each run and enables the automated IDealTune™
function ensuring optimal performance of the MALDI Biotyper.

Content: One box consisting of 5 tubes providing

50 µL per tube / Part No. 8255343

Matrix HCCA, portioned

The HCCA matrix is tailored for microbial identification on the MALDI

Biotyper. It is provided in stable dried portions to ensure it is always
fresh when needed. The HCCA is subjected to a rigorous purification
process and quality control to deliver highly sensitive measurements.
Its outstanding purity minimizes the deposition of debris in the
system’s ion source and thus helps avoiding unnecessary downtime.

Content: One box consisting of 10 tubes providing

250 µL per tube / Part No. 8255344

Disposable MBT Biotargets

The ready-to-use disposable MBT Biotargets offer 96 positions and

a unique barcode for full traceability in paperless workflows. The
AnchorChip™ effect makes it easy for users to achieve consistent
preparation of the target and obtain reproducible results.

MBT Biotarget 96
Pack of 20 individually barcoded MALDI
Biotyper target plates, 96 positions each /
Part No. 1840375

MSP adapter for MBT Biotarget 96

Adapter required to use MBT Biotargets
with MALDI Biotyper instruments /
Part No. 8267615

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Workflow optimization & automation
(optional)
MBT FAST™ Shuttle

Standardized and accelerated drying of MALDI Biotyper matrix and

other liquid reagents, increasing the matrix crystallization quality,
improving the microorganism identification success rate.

Part No. 1872847

MBT Pilot® System

The MBT Pilot System facilitates correct sample positioning through

patented microprojection technology by clearly highlighting the next
free MALDI target plate position.

Part No. 1822041

MBT Galaxy® System

The MBT Galaxy, for automated application of HCCA matrix and

formic acid, frees laboratory personnel from cumbersome pipetting
while ensuring the highest preparation quality under controlled
conditions and complete traceability in a paperless workflow.

Part No. 1821269

MBT Pathfinder ® GP and Feeder GP

The MBT Pathfinder is a semi-automated system for MALDI

target preparation, assisting in selection, transfer and preparation
of samples taken from microbiological colonies on culture plates.
The Feeder places culture plates by a robotic hand from the
carousel into the specified position in the MBT Pathfinder.

MBT Pathfinder GP / Part No. 1890100

Feeder GP / Part No. 1890355

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 Enabling smarter food microbiology

In need for a rapid strain discrimination method,

for real-time quality control and source tracking?

Bruker’s complementary IR Biotyper ® system allows same-day strain Summarized, it takes only little benchtop
discrimination of colonies, based on FT-IR spectroscopy. The easy-to- space to host the MALDI Biotyper, com-
use benchtop system enables fast and cost-effective microbial typing plemented by the IR Biotyper, to have a
with high discriminatory power. With the IR Biotyper, the complete dedicated and complete food microbiology
workflow including data analysis can be performed in less than 3 solution for confirmation/identification and
hours, allowing real-time monitoring of technological processes and strain discrimination of microorganisms,
source tracking. in just 3 hours.
The IR Biotyper allows customers to analyze their own sample sets Software connectivity with the MALDI
and perform cluster analysis and strain discrimination for a wide range Biotyper enables easy upload of sample
of different species, or make use of predefined classifiers provided by data from MALDI Biotyper to IR Biotyper,
the software for targeted and fast analyses. nevertheless both can also be used as
stand-alone solutions.

Selection of typical Preparation of sample Salmonella spp. confirmation

Salmonella spp. colonies and control onto on the MALDI Biotyper ®
MBT Biotarget 96 plate

Salmonella
species
confirmation
in minutes

Fast Salmonella
O-group
classification

Prepare a homogeneous Pipet samples and control Salmonella O-group

suspension with onto the target plate, classification on the
the IR Biotyper ® Kit dry the samples IR Biotyper ®

Salmonella spp. confirmation and Salmonella O-group differentiation

Typical workflow for confirmation of Salmonella spp., followed by differentiation using classifiers provided by the IR Biotyper:
Starting from colony material and using both instruments in parallel or sequential, Salmonella spp. confirmation and
differentiation of O-serogroups can be achieved very fast, starting from colony material.

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Root cause analysis examples

S. aureus contamination tracking by FT-IR

Food poisoning by Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most

frequent causes of foodborne intoxication worldwide. The ability
to subtype S. aureus is therefore crucial for epidemiological
investigations, to pinpoint the root cause and initiate counter
measures. Most molecular technologies are costly, but -
more importantly – suffering from a long time-to-result (TTR),
hence offering only retrospective analysis. The IR Biotyper provides
a cost-effective solution with a quick turnaround time, delivering
same-day results and immediate responses.
Figure on the right: Samples from an S. aureus outbreak were
analyzed alongside samples from various food handlers and the
IR Biotyper was able to determine two individuals (pink and green)
to be associated with the outbreak samples (white).

3D scatter plot of S. aureus outbreak isolates.

Source tracking of milk powder

Supplier 6 contaminations

M ain Factory Cronobacter spp., though rare, pose serious

“ House Flora” risks to infants, if present in baby formula.
Supplier 1 Providing the highest product safety is crucial,
hence accurate, fast and cost-efficient screen-
Supplier 2 ing technologies are needed. Combining the
MALDI Biotyper and the IR Biotyper enables
advanced microbial identification with effec-
Supplier 5
Supplier 4 tive contamination tracking.

Supplier 3 Analyzing Cronobacter contaminations

together with in-house samples as well as
supplier samples with the IR Biotyper ruled
out an in-house contamination source and
PCA 2D scatter plot of Cronobacter isolates. pinpointed to a contamination derived from
a sub-supplier of both suppliers 1 and 6.

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 No. 1917563 © 02-2025 Bruker Daltonics

Not for use in clinical diagnostic procedures.

Please contact your local representative for availability in your country.

MALDI Biotyper ®, MBT Pilot ® , MBT Pathfinder ®, MBT Galaxy ® and Online information
IR Biotyper ® are registered trademarks of the Bruker group of companies. bruker.com/microbiology

Bruker Daltonics GmbH & Co. KG Bruker Scientific LLC

Bremen · Germany Billerica, MA · USA
Phone +49 (0) 421-2205-0 Phone +1 (978) 663-3660

[email protected]