Headspace SPME-GC-MS metabolomics analysis of urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Abstract

In this chapter, we describe the procedure for metabolic profi ling of hundreds of urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS). SPME is a solvent-free technology that is reproducible, fast, cost effective, and versatile in extracting small molecular weight organic compounds (metabolites) from biofl uids using a fi ber that is coated with an extracting phase. After extraction, the SPME fi ber can be directly injected to the GC-MS, where the extracted metabolites will desorb thermally from the fi ber, elute along a GC column, and fi nally enter into the MS for detection. The analysis of urine samples is presented using this approach.