Antimicrobial resistance is rising, prompting clinical laboratories to find effective solutions for fast, accurate microorganism identification. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry has emerged as a rapid, cost-efficient and clinically effective tool for identifying pathogens.1,2
In this webinar, “The Use of MALDI-TOF in the Clinical Laboratory: Effectiveness and Challenges,” Dr. Elizabeth Palavecino shares her laboratory’s clinical experience with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This discussion explores the clinical effectiveness of this technology in patient management as well as the challenges of antimicrobial susceptibility reporting. After viewing the webinar, you will be able to:
- Describe MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry technology
- Plan an implementation of MALDI-TOF for microorganism identification in the clinical laboratory
- Discuss the effectiveness of this technology in patient management
- Explain the challenges associated with reporting and the impact of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry on antimicrobial stewardship
Presenter: Elizabeth Palavecino, M.D.
Dr. Elizabeth Palavecino is professor of pathology, director of clinical microbiology and co-director of the clinical and translational mass spectrometry center at Wake Forest School of Medicine.