MALDI-TOF MS has certain advantages over ESI-MS viz.
(i) MALDI-TOF MS produces singly charged ions, thus interpretation of data is easy comparative to ESI-MS,
(ii) for analysis by ESI-MS, prior separation by chromatography is required which is not needed for MALDI-TOF MS analysis (Everley et al., 2008).
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) has become a widely used technique for the rapid and accurate identification of bacteria, mycobacteria and certain fungal pathogens in the clinical microbiology laboratory.
MALDI is the abbreviation for "Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization." The sample for MALDI is uniformly mixed in a large quantity of matrix. The matrix absorbs the ultraviolet light (nitrogen laser light, wavelength 337 nm) and converts it to heat energy.
Learn more about MALDI here:
