GEN-MKT-18-7897-A
Jul 22, 2019 | Blogs, Clinical | 0 comments
Are you thinking about replacing existing immunoassay technology with clinical mass spectrometry? Keep reading to discover how the 3 “S”s will help you make the decision.
1. How does sensitivity play a role?
Many of the analytes measured in a clinical chemistry lab exist at nanogram and picogram per milliliter levels. We’re talking parts per billion and parts per trillion territory. Antibody-based applications might struggle to accurately detect and quantify biological compounds at such low concentrations, but LC-MS/MS provides the ability to accurately detect analytes at these ultra-low concentrations.
2. Is specificity enhanced when using mass spectrometry?
Whether the immunoassay is based on a monoclonal or polyclonal antibody approach, the compound in question is being detected based on the tertiary structure of the molecule. Because biological compounds such as steroids can have almost identical chemical structures, antibody-based techniques might struggle with molecular specificity. Mass spectrometry can identify compounds by the fragmentation pattern of the molecule, meaning its characteristic product ions, providing the enhanced specificity needed for the correct identification of structurally-similar compounds.
3. How important is selectivity?
In clinical chemistry, the variety of matrices, such as whole blood, plasma, serum, saliva, and vitreous humor, can make identification a challenge. Complex matrices can cause problems in methods that are susceptible to interference. Mass spectrometry uses powerful liquid chromatography to separate the analyte of interest from the matrix and detect and quantify it accurately. More advanced options such as QTRAP® technology available on the SCIEX Citrine® LC-MS/MS system takes it to another level—handling a matrix such as hair with ease.
There are many more benefits that mass spectrometry can provide, such as multiplexing to analyze more compounds in a single injection or developing your own assays as Lab Developed Tests (LDTs).
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Electron-Activated Dissociation (EAD) is transforming the fields of metabolomics and lipidomics by providing enhanced fragmentation techniques that offer deeper insights into molecular structures. In September, Technology Networks hosted a webinar, “Enhancing Mass-Based Omics Analysis in Model Organisms,” featuring Dr. Valentina Calabrese from the Institute of Analytical Sciences at the University of Lyon. Valentina shared her insights on improving omics-based mass spectrometry analysis for toxicology studies using model organisms, particularly in metabolomics and lipidomics. This blog explores the additional functionalities EAD offers, its benefits in untargeted workflows, its incorporation into GNPS and molecular networking, and the future role it could play in these scientific domains.
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has gained significant attention in the clinical laboratory due to its ability to provide best-in-class sensitivity and specificity for the detection of clinically relevant analytes across a wide range of assays. For clinical laboratories new to LC-MS/MS, integrating this technology into their daily routine operations may seem like a daunting task. Developing a clear outline and defining the requirements needed to implement LC-MS/MS into your daily operations is critical to maximize the productivity and success of your clinical laboratory.
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