Evaluation of the performance of MALDI-TOF MS and DNA sequence analysis in the identification of mycobacteria species
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Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
Published on: July 11, 2016
Işın Akyar1,2, Cengiz Çavuşoğlu3, Meltem Ayaş1
1Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Acıbadem University, İstanbul, Turkey
Background/Aim:
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is an alternative way of identifying mycobacteria via the analysis of biomolecules. It is being increasingly used in routine microbiology practice since it permits early, rapid, and cost-effective identification of pathogens of clinical importance. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of phenotypic identification of mycobacteria by the MALDI-TOF MS MBT Mycobacteria Library (ML) 4.0 (Bruker, Daltonics) compared to standard sequence analysis.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 155 Mycobacterium clinical and external quality control isolates, comprising nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) (n = 95) and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) (n = 60), were included in the study.
Results:
Identification by MBT ML4.0 was correctly performed in 100% of MTC and in 91% of NTM isolates. All of the MTC isolates were correctly differentiated from NTM isolates.
Conclusion:
Based on our results, MBT ML4.0 may be used reliably to identify both NTM and MTC.
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