S1. A modified method for blood culture direct testing using 2% SDS detergent and heat. v1
Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) can accurately identify bloodstream pathogens directly from positive blood culture bottles without the need to wait for agar plate growth. In this study, 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) detergent was assessed to determine its benefit in the removal of interfering cellular components for testing on the Bruker Microflex LT MALDI-TOF MS instrument with the Biotyper® CA system. Additionally, the use of a heat-drying step was evaluated for performance improvement over conventional air-drying of samples on the MALDI steel target plate. The modified method with 2% SDS outperformed the in-house protocol in overall success with percentage scores of 91% and 55% ( respectively). The data results support the potential of applying a simple lysing step to an existing in-house extraction method and the use of modified drying methods. The modified techniques evaluated in this study proved beneficial for identifying most blood culture pathogens encountered in the clinical laboratory, and they can allow for reduced turnaround times and more appropriate antibiotic treatments.