New technology has both advantages and disadvantages. Both parameters need to be considered when looking at implementing a new procedure in the clinical laboratory. Faster, better, cheaper, and with less labor are key while still providing optimal impact on patient care.
Consideration for implementation of the MALDI-TOF MS in the clinical microbiology laboratory requires:
- Cost justification
- Selection of instrument
- Processing of organisms
- Regulatory requirements
- Verification and validation of MALDI-TOF MS performance
In this section of the course, each of these parameters will be briefly discussed.
