IR Biotyper^® for Food & Veterinary Microbiology

The IR Biotyper^® software combines FT-IR spectroscopy with advanced machine learning models to support building user-defined classifiers, for rapid classification of microorganisms. These classification workflows help laboratories obtain standardized and reproducible results without the need for complex molecular testing. 

An expanding portfolio of ready-to-use classifiers supports targeted microbiology workflows across food safety, water testing, and public health applications. Available classifiers currently include Salmonella O-serogrouping, Listeria monocytogenes serogrouping, screening for the important O-serogroups of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and differentiation of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 from serogroups 2–15. The portfolio of available classifiers is regularly updated to address emerging microbiology challenges and customer requirements.  

Classification results are generated automatically and displayed in an intuitive traffic-light format, enabling straightforward interpretation and supporting faster decision-making in routine laboratory workflows. 

Application-specific flyers are available for selected classifiers:  

Hygiene control and source tracking throughout food and beverage production lines requires several steps, from surface sampling to analyses. Adequate monitoring of potential contaminants requires routine fingerprinting of the collected microbial isolates for proactive root cause analyses and corrective actions in sanitation process management. Fast screening approaches prior to molecular methods such as Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) helps saving time in setting up a microbial triage for further hygiene measures and prevention.

With a discriminatory power comparable to routine molecular genetic methods, the IR Biotyper^® meets the above needs, allowing for real-time quality control and source-tracking.

 

To ensure the quality and consistency of the products derived from beneficial microorganisms, QC strategies are crucial in monitoring biotechnological manufacturing. Strain typing of the technological strains is essential to assure meeting the predefined quality of product intermediates and final product.

With the IR Biotyper^®, strain typing and data analyses are achieved in less than three hours, enabling real-time monitoring of technological processes.
 

The IR Biotyper^® offers fast sample preparation of up to 30 microbial isolates in only 30 minutes. With high discriminatory power for routine testing, one full run (with 96 spot positions) delivers results in less than three hours.

This speed of response allows manufacturers and food labs to obtain same-day results and act promptly.

To maximize efficiencies in the food testing laboratory, the IR Biotyper^® software can be integrated with Bruker’s market leading MALDI Biotyper^® system using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This powerful combination brings together the rapid microorganism identification capability of the MALDI Biotyper^® with IR strain typing, in a seamless workflow.