Download MALDI-TOF Diagnostic Service - University of Pretoria Archived

MALDI-TOF Diagnostic Service
The Plant to Food Research group provides a microbial diagnostic service using the MALDI-TOF Biotyper. The service is
available for research purposes to all students and staff of the University of Pretoria as well as collaborators and other research
institutions.
The MALDI Biotyper identifies microorganisms using MALDI-TOF (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight)
Mass Spectrometry measuring the unique protein fingerprint of an organism. Specifically, the MALDI Biotyper measures highly
abundant proteins that are found in all microorganisms.The characteristic patterns of these proteins are used to reliably identify
a particular microorganism by matching the respective patterns with an extensive open database to determine the identity of the
microorganism down to species level. The current data base is however still being developed and a wide range of
environmental, agricultural and food associated microorganisms are still not in the system. As part of our research programme
we plan to build this unique database for South Africa. We therefore would like to request that selected important
microorganisms be used to expand the database.
The MALDI Biotyper System is:

Highly accurate and reproducible

Applicable to a wide range of microorganisms – bacteria, fungi, yeasts

Much faster than traditional methods

Cost effective
Guidelines for the use of the diagnostic service:
Book a spot for each sample at least one week before the analysis. Complete a sample analysis request form (available
here) and submit to [email protected] or fax to 012 420 4588 at least two days before the booked analysis. Price
list (note that prices are per sample):
Procedure
Direct
plating
Extraction
plating
Library
entry






No of
samples
per
submiss
ion form
In House (University of Pretoria)
Other institutions
Commercial institutions
Bacteria
Fungi
Yeasts
Bacteria
Fungi
Yeasts
Bacteria
Fungi
Yeasts
1-5
6-20
21-94
>94
1-5
6-20
21-94
> 94
R 70.00
R 60.00
R 50.00
R40.00
R 170.00
R 160.00
R 150.00
R 140.00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R80.00
R70.00
R60.00
R50.00
R75.00
R65.00
R55.00
R45.00
R170.00
R160.00
R150.00
R140.00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R220.00
R200.00
R180.00
R170.00
R95.00
R85.00
R65.00
R55.00
R200.00
R180.00
R160.00
R150.00
R 200.00
R 150.00
R 125.00
R100.00
R300.00
R260.00
R220.00
R 200.00
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
R350.00
R310.00
R270.00
R220.00
R210.00
R160.00
R130.00
R110.00
R310.00
R270.00
R230.00
R 210.00
1
R 1400.00
R1500.00
R1440.00
R90.00
R80.00
R60.00
R50.00
R200.00
R180.00
R160.00
R150.00
R1450.0
0
R1550.00
R1450.00
R 1900.00
R2000.00
R 1950.00
Upon receipt of the sample analysis request form, an analysis date will be scheduled and the researcher notified to
allow sufficient time for sample preparation. There is no restriction on the number of samples to be submitted for
analysis. However, samples are routinely analysed in batches of 200-250 over a two week period due to the short shelf
life of the matrix, once prepared.
All bacterial and yeast cultures must be pure cultures, grown on a suitable agar medium forming single colonies.
Bacterial cultures should not be older than 24 hours. With your permission we would also like to have the culture in
glycerol in Eppendorf tubes for future database expansion. The necessary recognition will be given.
All fungal cultures must be pure cultures grown on agar plates (only one culture per plate).
All samples should be clearly (legible) identified, i.e. have a proper code written on the bottom of the Petri dish no
longer than 4 digits.
Results for bacteria will be sent within two days from the analysis date, and results for fungi will be sent within three to
four days from the analysis date.
Enquiries: Amelita Lombard Tel: 012 420 4913, email: [email protected]
Terms and conditions:

Analysis is done on a first-come-first-served basis (use the booking system).

The sample submission form must be completed in full.

Re-analysis of a sample due to inconclusive results will be treated as a new sample and should be paid for as such.

We do not prepare cultures for the MADLI-TOF Biotyper analysis.

We cannot accept responsibility for the purity of microbial cultures.

We do not interpret results.

We do not return samples/cultures – please ensure that you have backups.

In the case where the results will form part of an article to be published in a journal, a copy of the publication should be
sent to us for NRF report purposes.

The following acknowledgment should also be included in any publication/thesis:
'This work is based on the research supported in part by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South
Africa (Grant specific unique reference number (UID) 74426).

We reserve the right to use the results to expand the database and may request additional data for that purpose.

We reserve the right to enter the results in the databank of the MADLI-TOF system. However the IP still belongs to the
researcher and it will be documented as such.

Payment for the service is strictly within 30 days of receipt of the invoice.