Innovations and Product Launches

Our continuous R&D activities on MALDI Biotyper^® have dramatically increased the speed of microorganism identification by the introduction of the powerful MBT Compass HT IVD^* software, boosting the analysis speed of the MALDI Biotyper^® sirius systems to up to 600 samples/hour.

Traditionally, the MALDI Biotyper^® Reference Libraries have been updated by an impressive number of new reference spectra, with a focus on broadening the coverage of the intraspecies diversity, while increasing the identification performance.

The MBT IVD Library version 2023 has undergone even further quality improvements at the level of individual strain level entries, and covers a total number of 4,239 species, complemented by

• A mighty IVD solution with the MBT HT Filamentous Fungi IVD Module*, facilitating the identification of 222 species/ species groups of filamentous fungi with the easy yet powerful MyT sample preparation procedure, contributing to high identification success rates
• The MBT HT Mycobacteria IVD Module* covering 182 Mycobacterium species
• The MBT IVD Library Extension covering 5 species from 5 genera of highly pathogenic microorganisms.

The MBT Mycobacteria IVD Kit* facilitates sample preparation for Mycobacterium spp. cultivated in liquid cultures as well as on solid media. Unlike other procedures requiring boiling, the safe inactivation method holds a convenient and user-friendly incubation of the bacteria with an Inactivation Reagent. 

The MBT Compass Library** (RUO) version 2023 has likewise been improved, covering a total number of 4,320 species, complemented by

• The MBT HT Filamentous Fungi Module** (RUO) covering 225 species/ species groups
• The MBT HT Mycobacteria Module** (RUO) covering 182 Mycobacterium species
• The Security-Relevant (SR) Library covering 12 highly pathogenic species from 10 genera

Our market-leading MALDI Biotyper is now equipped with a zero-effort IDealTune™ feature securing optimal performance. IDealTune automatically finetunes the key parameters of the MALDI-TOF without any user intervention, without dedicated tuning samples, without time-consuming manual tuning, even without extra costs.

The outstanding wide mass range resolution achieved by the MALDI Biotyper^® allows powerful post-processing activities by the MBT HT Subtyping IVD Module*, revealing information hidden in the spectra. The MBT HT Subtyping IVD Module^* looks for decisive peaks in the identified mass spectrum or triggers a sophisticated additional algorithm, to detect specific resistance markers or for reliable differentiation of highly related species.

The current applications of this continuously expanding module comprise:

• Detection of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli
• Bacteroides fragilis cfiA subtyping
• Differentiation of Mycobacterium chimaera from Mycobacterium intracellulare
• Differentiation of Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. mitis_oralis and S. pseudopneumoniae

The IVD MALDI Biotyper^® system stands out for its low consumable cost per sample, user-friendly interface, and rapid time-to-result. This has resulted in an increased preference for routine microbial identification, driving the demand for automated sample preparation in MALDI-TOF analysis. The desire for improved microbiology workflows, coupled with the need to minimize manual labor and reduce the risk of human errors such as sample misplacement and cross-contamination, has made automated solutions highly sought after.

The MBT Pathfinder^® IVD*, equipped with AI-powered colony preselection, colony transfer, and comprehensive MALDI target preparation, offers a fully documented and traceable solution. The integration of the Feeder IVD* automates the process further by feeding petri dishes into the tray of the MBT Pathfinder^® IVD*, liberating valuable technician work time.

The latest IR Biotyper^®***  software allows for seamless integration with the MALDI Biotyper^® software, and conjoint feeding of data into the LIMS.

A major step forward for strain typing is the availability of predefined strain or serotype classification, based on artificial neural network (ANN). The most recent IR Biotyper^® software provides classifiers for serogrouping/ serotyping of Legionella, Listeria, Streptococcus and Salmonella. In addition, customers can build their own classifiers according to their needs. Powerful visualization tools such as 3D scatter plots are supporting the fast interpretation of large data sets by unsupervised tools such as PCA (Principal Component Analysis) or supervised tools such as LDA (Linear Discriminant Analysis).

Multiple initiatives are ongoing to fight against the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) challenge, and getting accurate AST results is critical for antibiotic stewardship teams to preserve the long-term efficacy of antibiotics. UMIC^® is Bruker´s brand for high accuracy single drug MIC testing, based on the broth microdilution reference method. These ready-to-use single strips are a perfect complement to the routine AST workflow of a clinical microbiology laboratory. The flexible solution provides EUCAST and CLSI compliance, simplicity and convenient logistics, helping to make the right decision regarding patient treatment escalation or de-escalation in the context of AMR. The current UMIC^® portfolio comprises five antibiotics and antibiotic combinations: colistin, piperacillin-tazobactam, vancomycin/teicoplanin, daptomycin and cefiderocol.

From a drug development perspective, cefiderocol is one of the most promising antibiotics, remaining active even when facing the most challenging carbapenem resistance mechanisms. To support antibiotic stewardship, clinical microbiologists are looking for reliable and accurate cefiderocol MIC testing in full compliance with EUCAST and CLSI standards. Bruker´s UMIC^® Cefiderocol* and the associated iron-depleted Mueller Hinton broth offer an easy-to-implement solution and can conveniently be tested along with UMIC^® Colistin* to deliver trusted MIC results when it matters most.

Bruker’s pioneering LiquidArray^® technology is an innovative approach to detecting microorganisms, that utilizes advanced probe and thermocycling technologies. It maximizes the multiplexing capability of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and provides consistent, comprehensive results at a glance.

Bruker’s offering powered by LiquidArray^® :

Syndromic panels designed to streamline diagnostic testing and replace multiple tests with one:

• LiquidArray^® Gastrointestinal* – detects up to 26 pathogens – covering bacteria, viruses and parasites – in a single two-well protocol
• FluoroType^® STI* – powered by LiquidArray^® - covering 7 STI pathogens in a single well

LiquidArray^®Gastrointestinal* streamlines gastrointestinal testing with a single protocol that covers up to 26 pathogens from stool samples in a semi-automated two-well format. Now available in low to high throughput workflows, users can replace multiple tests with one, providing comprehensive coverage for primary stool testing – meeting the throughput needs of the routine laboratory. The test provides detection of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and pathogen-associated toxins with results at a glance in a standardized report.

The FluoroType^® STI* assay detects 9 different targets, covering 7 pathogens, in a single well. For Neisseria gonorrhoeae  and Chlamydia trachomatis, dual target detection is provided. Tackling the diagnostic challenge of accurate N. gonorrhoeae testing (due to high recombination rates between different Neisseria species), FluoroType^® STI* provides confidence by requiring the detection of two independent genes to return a 
N. gonorrhoeae positive result. Results are automatically interpreted and provided in a standardized report.

Targeting Mycobacteria, M. tuberculosis (MTB), first- and second-line drug resistance:

• FluoroType^® MTBDR VER 2.0* – powered by LiquidArray^® – detects the MTB complex and up to 45 mutations and resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid in a single well 
  
• LiquidArray^® MTB -XDR VER 1.0* - detects MTB complex and up to 28 mutations and resistance to second-line drugs linezolid, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, ethambutol and amikacin in a single well 
• FluoroType^® Mycobacteria VER 1.0* – powered by LiquidArray^®– detects up to 32 clinically relevant nontuberculous mycobacteria in a single well

We have further expanded our comprehensive tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria PCR diagnostics portfolio; the portfolio is unique as it includes the only leprosy molecular diagnostic test focusing on resistance in the market. Other highlights include that the portfolio enables M. tuberculosis complex detection, which is also possible in combination with first-line resistance detection covering both rifampicin AND isoniazid in a single WHO-endorsed test (FluoroType^® MTBDR VER 2.0*), second-line resistance detection (LiquidArray^® MTB-XDR VER 1.0) and differentiation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (FluoroType^® Mycobacteria VER 1.0).

LiquidArray^® MTB-XDR VER 1.0 targets extensively drug resistant tuberculosis. Capitalising on the power of LiquidArray^® technology, the assay detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis and up to 28 mutations, detecting resistance to five WHO-recommended second-line drugs – including linezolid – and provides sequence-level results in a single test.  

FluoroType^® MTBDR VER 2.0  has been updated to provided improved MTB sensitivity and can now be performed from native sputum.  

The LiquidArray^® MTB-XDR VER 1.0 and FluoroType^® MTBDR VER 2.0 assays provide same day MTB and resistance detection from a single extract in a single day. Together they provide resistance detection and same-day sequencing-like results for seven WHO-recommended drugs and, alongside FluoroType^® Mycobacteria VER 1.0, form a comprehensive molecular diagnostic workflow for every mycobacteria laboratory.   

Our fully validated and integrated FluoroType^® workflow* offers a complete solution from patient sample to results at a glance. Automated extraction is performed with the GenoXtract^® fleXT*, providing consistent performance across multiple users. The system processes up to 96 samples in parallel, including PCR setup, allowing users to walk away to other tasks. Data is digitally tracked from barcode loading to results transfer to FluoroCycler^® XT*. The FluoroCycler^® XT* has five detection channels, outstanding optical alignment and thermal precision enabling next generation multiplex PCR testing. The integrated FluoroSoftware^® XT-IVD* automates the analysis, generating standardized reports, which provide results at a glance. The workflow has been designed for rapid laboratory set-up and high-throughput testing. 

Please contact your local representative for availability of these new products.

*      Please contact your local representative for availability in your country. Not for sale in the USA.

**    For Research Use Only. Not for use in clinical diagnostic procedures.

***  Not for use in clinical diagnostic procedures.