Patent ID: 9631221
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: C12Q,G01N,H01J

Claim:
1. A method for characterizing at least one microorganism in a sample for identification of microorganisms therein, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a sample containing at least one microorganism, wherein the sample is in a suspension; (b) depositing at least a portion of the obtained sample on a solid surface adapted to be placed in an apparatus configured to determine the identity of microorganisms by mass spectrometry; (c) drying the deposited sample; (d) treating the deposited and dried sample with a volatile acid solution, wherein the volume percent of the volatile acid is at least 70% of the volatile acid solution combined with the sample, and the volatile acid solution is a volatile acid in water or a volatile solution in an organic solvent; (e) drying the treated sample; (f) placing a matrix over the treated and dried sample; and (g) identifying the microorganisms by a mass spectrometry.