Effect of gamma radiation on the identification of bacterial pathogens by MALDI-TOF MS

Dobryan M Tracz; Stuart J McCorrister; Garrett R Westmacott; Cindi R Corbett

doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2012.11.013

Effect of gamma radiation on the identification of bacterial pathogens by MALDI-TOF MS

J Microbiol Methods. 2013 Feb 15;92(2):132-4. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2012.11.013. Epub 2012 Nov 28.

Authors

Dobryan M Tracz¹, Stuart J McCorrister, Garrett R Westmacott, Cindi R Corbett

Affiliation

¹ National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3E 3R2.

PMID: 23201167
DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2012.11.013

Abstract

MALDI-TOF MS is a well-established method for rapid identification of bacteria; however there are no reports to date on its performance with gamma-irradiated samples typically used in BSL-3 laboratories for sample inactivation. In this report we demonstrate that gamma-irradiated bacteria can be accurately identified by MALDI-TOF MS in most cases, but a decrease in identification scores is observed.

Publication types

Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

Bacteria / chemistry
Bacteria / classification
Bacteria / isolation & purification*
Bacteria / radiation effects*
Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
Gamma Rays*
Sensitivity and Specificity
Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods*