GEN-MKT-18-7897-A
Oct 8, 2019 | Blogs, Clinical | 0 comments
The journey to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) adoption from immunoassay can be complicated, but certainly rewarding. While immunoassay has been considered the default methodology for decades, they can be susceptible to interferences and cross-reactivity, especially for biological compounds that exhibit similar chemical structures. Moreover, comparisons between manufacturers can give rise to differences in results when testing for the same analyte due to variations in antibody production, causing unwanted bias during evaluation of an assay.
An increasing number of clinical laboratories around the world have begun to consider and begin the journey of developing their own methodology based on mass spectrometry. There are a number of advantages with the LC-MS/MS approach: high-performance separation, identification, and quantification of small molecules, peptides, and proteins routinely tested in a biochemistry laboratory. The ability to quickly adapt to new and emerging trends in laboratory testing, as well as the freedom to troubleshoot their own methods are a huge advantage.
Besides excellent reproducibility and specificity, LC-MS/MS has the capacity for multiplexing, high-throughput, and provides significant cost savings as users implement their own Lab Developed Tests. These features are some of the reasons for the increasing popularity of mass spectrometry adoption, even in the face of the need for specialized and specifically-trained technicians and its own set of analytical challenges.
Mass spectrometry is becoming the gold standard for quantification. The cost savings for LC-MS/MS alone may not be enough, but when coupled with the three “Ss”: Speed, Sensitivity, and Selectivity, the potentials become much clearer. The journey has helped improve the practice of medicine and enabled physicians to provide better patient care and even allowed for the development of precision diagnostics.
With the ever-present challenges associated with laboratory test reimbursement, mass spectrometry can provide a solution that saves money and provides multiple benefits to the patient and the healthcare system.
Dr. Caroline Le Goff, a Clinical Biochemist from the University of Liège recently participated in a webinar with us, detailing her experience in the journey from immunoassay to mass spectrometry adoption.
Come and discover her experiences throughout the journey.
Lab Developed Tests for the clinical laboratory >
In biopharmaceutical development, sequence variants (SV) are considered an inherent risk of producing complex proteins in living systems. Sequence variants are unintended changes to the amino acid sequence of a biotherapeutic and can be caused by errors in transcription or translation in the host cell, or cell culture and process conditions. Detailed analysis of SVs is important in process and product development to ensure the drug’s safety and efficacy. Even low‑level sequence variants can have significant implications for product quality, safety, and efficacy, making their accurate detection and characterization a critical requirement across development, process optimization, and regulatory submission.
CE‑SDS remains a cornerstone assay for characterizing fragmentation, aggregation, and product‑related impurities in therapeutic proteins. UV detection has been the long‑standing standard. However, it frequently struggles with baseline noise, limited sensitivity for minor fragments, and subjective integration.
At SCIEX, innovation doesn’t stop at instruments; it extends to how you interact with your LC-MS/MS or CE systems every day. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the SCIEX Now spring 2026 improvements: a set of meaningful enhancements shaped directly by your feedback.
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