LC-MS/MS in the routine clinical laboratory: has its time come?

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2014 Apr;406(9-10):2289-301. doi: 10.1007/s00216-013-7542-5. Epub 2013 Dec 15.

Abstract

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been increasingly used in routine clinical laboratories during the last two decades. The high specificity, sensitivity, and multi-analyte potential make it an ideal alternative to immunoassays or conventional high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It also provides higher throughput than gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). LC-MS/MS also offers higher flexibility than immunoassays because LC-MS/MS assays are typically developed in-house. In addition, abundant information can be obtained from a single LC-MS/MS run which can produce a large amount of quantitative or qualitative data. In this review, typical LC-MS/MS clinical applications are presented, personal experiences are shared, and strengths and weakness are discussed. It is foreseeable that LC-MS/MS will become a key instrument in routine clinical laboratories.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid*
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / instrumentation
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods*
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / instrumentation
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / methods*
  • Humans
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry*