MALDI Biotyping

• Species of interest must be listed in our DFI Comprehensive Species list.
• Samples should consist of “fresh” bacterial cultures on agar plates
  • Any agar plate type may be used
• Individual colonies must be large enough to be picked with a toothpick. For viability questions please email Bryce Connors

• Agar plate cultures must be submitted within three days of colonies reaching full size in the incubator. Samples will be processed by DFI staff within two days of submission
• After removing culture plates from the incubator, store them in a Ziploc bag at ≤4°C to avoid over-drying

In addition to species in Bruker's RUO document, we also have custom libraries. A full list can be downloaded here

Full list of Species

Please click the link to fill out our MALDI Service Request Form

NOTE: You must be a UChicago member to request this service

• Samples can be dropped off in room KCBD 4240B. Please deposit in the yellow box labeled "MALDI Biotyping Sample Drop Off"
• Label all plates with the following format:

1. Requestor initials
2. PI initials
3. Species you believe the plate is (If submitting multiple plates of the same species, please indicate)
4. Date plate was created
5. Example: If Nina Laliwala works in Eric Pamer's lab, and wants to do Maldi Biotyping on a plate she created on January 1, 2026, the plate would be labeled as: NL.EP.AnaerostipesCaccae.1/1/2026

• Plates must be contained in a plastic bag or wrapped in parafilm