[Identifying bacteria using a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer. Comparison with routine methods used in clinical microbiology laboratories].

Introduction: The methods routinely used for bacterial identification in Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, although miniaturized and automated, are still based on the same basic principles as classical identification methods. Nevertheless, technological advances are emerging which could modify these routine methods. We report a comparative study between conventional identification methods and mass spectrometry MALDI-TOF (MS MALDI-TOF) for bacterial identification in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory.