Anwendung der HPLC-Tandem-Massenspektrometrie in der klinischen Chemie / The use of HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry in clinical chemistry

Abstract

The technology of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry opens the perspective of a more widespread use of highly specific mass spectrometric assays in a routine clinical laboratory setting as compared to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After the first years of routine application of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in a growing number of laboratories, it has become evident that this technique will become a substantial part of the methodological spectrum of laboratory medicine. This is due to the very wide range of potential analytes to be measured with no limitation by molecular mass, the straightforward sample preparation not requiring chemical derivatization and due to the rugged instrumentation with limited maintenance requirements. This review gives a survey of the technical principles of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, describes the basics of method development and typical routine applications, discusses strengths and limitations of the technique, and highlights the perspectives for future developments of the technology.