Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry as Internship Teaching Content in...

Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is one of the preferred detection techniques for identification of clinical microorganisms and it has the characteristics of rapid identification, simple operation, low cost, and updatable databases. For laboratory medicine undergraduates, clinical internship is an important stage for the connection of basic theoretical knowledge and clinical practice. Internship teaching choosing MALDI-TOF MS as the content will greatly increase the popularity and applicability of the new technology in the clinical microbiology laboratory.

With the help of electronic databases on the network, we conducted a systematic review. According to the purpose of research, we singled out forty papers. Latest studies on history, basic principles, clinical features, and applications of MALDI-TOF MS and the internship teaching contents introducing new technologies are summarized and focused on. In internship teaching, firstly we explain the historical development, basic principle and widespread applications of MALDI-TOF MS in the identification of clinical pathogenic microorganisms and the detection of antibiotic resistance. Subsequently, we instruct the students to perform the experimental operations, analyze the common problems, and find solutions. Finally, we highlight quality control and laboratory biosafety.

Most of the reviews published previously report the clinical features and applications of MALDI-TOF MS and the internship teaching contents choosing other new technologies. It is the first study selecting MALDI-TOF MS technology as an internship teaching content creatively. Primary outcome is that the students understand the theoretical knowledge in detail, master the operation skills of MALDI-TOF MS quickly, and obtain excellent internship performances in the clinical internship through the internship teaching. Secondary outcome is that it is a help to cultivate medical students' train of thought for scientific research and to understand the application of the new technology in clinical testing and scientific research.

Laboratory medicine undergraduates should cherish the opportunity to learn the new technology during the internship period and should master basic principle and operation. As internship teachers, it is necessary to introduce the new technology to students during the internship and encourage undergraduates to cultivate creative and innovative thinking of scientific research.