MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry-based identification of group A Streptococcus isolated from areas of the 2011 scarlet fever outbreak in china

- Establishing a domestic database is the most effective way to improve the identification efficiency using a MALDI-TOF MS.
- The MALDI-TOF MS was used for GAS identification in scarlet fever outbreak.
- MALDI-TOF MS is a viable alternative to conventional methods and may aid in the diagnosis and surveillance of GAS.
- MALDI-TOF MS can be used for the preliminary typing of GAS.