Bruker announces updated microbial identification and outbreak management workflows
Bruker has announced the expansion of two of their workflows for microbial identification, outbreak analysis, and reflex next‑generation sequencing (NGS) typing. The announcement came from ESCMID Global 2026.
To further streamline routine MALDI‑TOF workflows, Bruker introduced the proprietary MBT Easy T Kit (RUO and IVDR), a consumables kit designed to simplify and standardize sample transfer steps to MALDI target plates. The kit includes ready-to-use reagents and applicators, supporting up to 2,000 samples, while enabling room temperature storage and reducing chemical waste.
Additionally, the MALDI Biotyper reference libraries were expanded to more than 5,300 species, including bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi, and mycobacteria (RUO). The latest library updates add more than 600 new species and significantly strengthen species coverage, particularly for the dedicated filamentous fungi MyT workflow which benefits from ~30% stronger species coverage. Corresponding IVDR‑registered library expansions are currently in progress.
To extend access to specialized identification content beyond local installations, Bruker is offering early access to a cloud‑based MALDI identification solution (RUO) for selected key opinion leaders and expert laboratories.
Bruker reported they are working to advance automation across sample preparation workflows with MBT PrepMatic and MBT SepsiMatic systems, both currently under evaluation in IVDR-compliant clinical validation studies. MBT PrepMatic is designed to enable semi‑ to fully automated colony picking from Petri dish cultures and preparation of MALDI target plates. MBT SepsiMatic is designed to support a fully automated workflow from positive blood culture bottles to prepared MALDI target plates, with the potential to produce purified samples containing viable cells for downstream analysis.
In the area of hospital hygiene and epidemiology, Bruker has enhanced IR Biotyper applications (GP) with IR Tracker for surveillance of hospital‑acquired infections (HAIs) and new classifiers for clinically and epidemiologically significant organisms. Newly supported targets include Salmonella Typhi, Shiga toxin‑producing E. coli (STEC), and Shigella species - pathogens associated with specific treatment requirements, high infectivity, and public health reporting obligations. These enhancements support rapid differentiation and classification to aid outbreak detection and infection control efforts.
Furthermore, Bruker unveiled a new software version of its MBioSEQ Ridom Typer (RUO), featuring short and long read whole genome sequencing (WGS) data analysis for research and expert laboratory applications. The software now includes TB-Profiler-based antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determination and GAMBIT bacterial species identification, supporting MALDI / IR Biotyper-triggered WGS reflex workflows as part of laboratory‑defined analysis processes.
