Andorra Hospital Lab Adopts MALDI-TOF to Cut Bacteria ID Time to Minutes

The Clinical Laboratory at Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Hospital (HNSM) has introduced a MALDI-TOF analysis system, slashing bacteria identification times by up to 24 hours—from around three days using traditional methods to minutes once cultures are ready. This upgrade enhances infection diagnosis accuracy, enables faster antibiotic selection and promotes more targeted antimicrobial use to tackle rising bacterial resistance.

The Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight technology detects both bacteria and fungi rapidly, moving beyond reliance on slower culture and biochemical tests. SAAS, Andorra's public health service, described it as a key step forward in patient care. In 2025 to date, the lab has conducted 5,007 bacterial identifications, with *Escherichia coli* the most common at 2,010 isolates, followed by *Klebsiella pneumoniae* with 419.

The launch forms part of broader laboratory modernization efforts. Leticia Bermúdez, head of the service since April last year, highlighted additional upgrades: new biochemical analysis equipment introduced last year processes up to 1,000 blood tests per hour; a pre-analytical robot will soon automate routine tasks like tube handling to free staff for scientific work; and a molecular biology section is planned to bring PCR testing in-house—previously outsourced to Barcelona—for applications including respiratory viruses, meningitis and herpes viruses like varicella.

These changes aim to boost efficiency, cut costs and allow the lab to handle external samples from other facilities. Last year, it processed nearly 1.5 million tests across 121,000 requests, with volumes doubling in some areas due to population growth and advancing medical demands. The 24/7 operation relies on a 34-person multidisciplinary team of doctors, technicians, a nurse and administrators, holding ISO laboratory accreditation for over a decade. Bermúdez praised the staff's quality and ongoing training amid rapid technological shifts, noting improvements will ultimately speed results and elevate care standards.