A variety of methods can be used to prepare a microorganism for MALDI-TOF MS analysis. These include:
- Direct microorganism spotting on the target.
- Direct formic acid overlay on the organism on the target.
- Full chemical protein extraction.
The process of extracting protein for analysis and microorganism identification varies by microorganism type and will be discussed accordingly.
Irrespective of the method used, once the matrix has been applied to the template, our data shows storage as long as eight hours does not affect identifications.
