Vitek Ms

Running head: VITEK MS

VITEK MS

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Course Name

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VITEK MS 2

VITEK MS

Purpose and Principle

The VITEK MS is an automatic mass spectrometer and software system, which is

designed to enhance quick identification of microbial organisms. The system has swiftly become

the most advanced technology, which differentiates and identifies bacteria, fungi, and some

viruses. The main reason why VITEK MS is the best system is that the results are timely and

often provided within minutes. Besides. The VITEK MS has the capability to identify subtle

samples. The system has also demonstrated improvement in workflow. Significantly, the results

obtained from the system are reliable and accurate (Sandle, 2014). The VITEK MS is one of the

exciting advancements in microbiology after the automated blood culture.

The principle of the VITEK MS is as follows. After the sample preparation, the user

introduces the sample into a high vacuum setting. The high vacuum environment, ionization

occurs with a particular laser, which causes the sample to burst, discharging a protein cloud. The

protein cloud is accelerated by the use of an electric charge while recording the time of the flight.

For instance, the light proteins travel faster than the heavy protein cloud. In summary, the

principle of the VITEK MS is to ionize chemical compounds to obtain charged molecules, and to

them quantify their mass to charge ratio (Martiny, et al., 2012).

Procedure and Application

The procedure for the using the VITEK MS is as follows. Foremost, the user prepares the

target slide and introduces it to an incredibly vacuum environment. In the vacuum environment,

a particular laser beam strikes and splits the sample, releasing a protein cloud. Once the cloud is

released, an electric charge is utilized in accelerating it. The protein cloud is passed through the

ring electrode. The ring electrode records the time of flight since different protein clouds have a

different speed of flight depending on their mass. The cloud of proteins is then detected by a

sensor, creating a spectrum which represents the protein makeup of every individual sample

(Dubois, et al., 2012). Then, the system automatically compares the spectrum from the sample

with an extensive database of bacteria and fungi spectra, which are already characterized with

precision. In the process of comparison, the identification can me noted at the family genus and

species levels.

The VITEK MS has widespread application in medicine and microbiology. For instance,

a sample culture for determining a particular microorganism is prepared and placed on the slide.

VITEK MS 3

Through the above procedure, the proteins from the sample are compared with existing microbial

organisms in the VITEK MS database, before identifying the organism based on its family,

genus and species. Once, the organism is identified, treatment measures can then be administered

to the patient presenting that bacteria or fungi.

The VITEK MS is also used in research facilities to study new strains of bacteria and

viruses. Because of the presence of many bacteria and viruses, research is vital in identifying

new strains of micro-organisms, and including them in the database for further applications in

hospital laboratories. Additionally, educational facilities, particularly for Microbiology utilize

this system in learning activities and teaching the students how to identify strains of viruses,

bacteria, and fungi using the VITEK MS.

Results

The results of the VITEK MS are robust and accurate and necessary for the best patient

care decision. The system interprets each spectrum as a series of peaks, which are detected

through intensity and mass. In the presence of the Advance Spectra Classifier, the spectrum is

distinguished efficiently since each peak is considered in the calculation and identification of the

microorganism. The VITEK MS houses a database with a population of fungi, bacteria and virus

strains. The system accounts for diversity among strains which fall within the same species.

Hence, through the high level of differentiation, the attained results are usually accurate and

robust. Using the VITEK MS system, modification of score is not necessary. The VITEK MS

database can discriminate between species. The species distinguished can originate from various

backgrounds including a geographical diversity of the isolates, isolates from a variety of origins

such as blood and tissue. Besides, the isolates could be sub cultured in differing media or with

varying incubation periods (Tan, et al., 2012).

Example, the user can prepare and introduce a sample bacteria, which is ionized until the

identification process. For instance, if the bacteria is E.coli, the VITEK MS will compare the

protein from the sample with those available in the VITEK MS database. In a few minutes, the

system can identify the previously unknown E.coli bacteria, with the results useful in patient care

decision making.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The benefits of the VITEK MS include the following. Foremost, the VITEK MS can

identify a broad spectrum of bacteria, both gram positive and negative comprising of rods and

VITEK MS 4

cocci. Secondly, the system is efficient when detecting the anaerobic bacteria. Thirdly, the

results of the systems are usually reproducible. Furthermore, the user can expand the system

depending on their requirements. Significantly, a majority of the tests conducted using the

VITEK MS only need a single colony in most cases (Sandle, 2015). Additionally, the system has

been most successful in virus identification. Besides, the risk of exposure, when using the

VITEK MS is low since the samples are inactivated through extraction before identification.

Moreover, a majority of the bacteria, which have proven difficult to culture before, have

successfully been identified using the VITEK MS. The VITEK MS also detects fungi, especially

yeast. However, it only identifies limited strains of fungi such as Penicillium and Aspergillus.

Finally, securing the equipment is relatively expensive, but the operation costs are extremely

low.

Disadvantages

The microorganisms characterized by the possession of capsule do not respond to lysis.

Hence, the extracted yield is always low leading to reduced quality spectra, which can cause

misidentification. Therefore, because of the potentially false results, users recommend that the

samples should be tested in duplicate. Secondly, the type of media utilized in the system can

cause interference. The reason is that if the media selected during verification is not used as a

standard, the results could be false. Thirdly, the VITEK MS has failed to identify many

organisms, especially the Mycobacteria such as the Acinetobacter species. The reasons that

Mycobacteria have a genetic relationship. Moreover, the presence of endospores can result in

spectral interferences, particular with the Bacillus species of bacteria. Additionally, the system

has failed to freely distinguish between similar organisms such as E.coli and Shigella species.

Finally, the system has failed to make a distinction between various antibiotic sensitive and

resistant strains of the same species (Sandle, 2015).

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References

Dubois, D., Grare, M., Prere, M. F., Segonds, C., Marty, N., & Oswald, E. (2012). Performances

of the Vitek MS matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass

spectrometry system for rapid identification of bacteria in routine clinical microbiology.

Journal of clinical microbiology, 50(8), 2568-2576.

Martiny, D., Busson, L., Wybo, I., El Haj, R. A., Dediste, A., & Vandenberg, O. (2012).

Comparison of the MICROFLEX LT and VITEK® MS systems for the routine

identification of bacteria by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization Time-Of-Flight

Mass Spectrometry. Journal of clinical microbiology, JCM-05971.

Sandle, T. (2014). Approaching the Selection of Rapid Microbiological Methods. Journal of

Validation Technology, 20(2), 1-10.

Sandle, T. (2015). Microbiological Identification with MALDI-TOF MS| IVT. Journal of

Validation Technology, 21(3), 1-10.

Tan, K. E., Ellis, B. C., Lee, R., Stamper, P. D., Zhang, S. X., & Carroll, K. C. (2012).

Prospective evaluation of a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight

mass spectrometry system in a hospital clinical microbiology laboratory for identification

of bacteria and yeasts: a bench-by-bench study for assessing the impact on time to

identification and cost-effectiveness. Journal of clinical microbiology, 50(10), 3301-

3308.

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