Mass Spectrometry & Purification Techniques
Open Access

Use of Mass spectrometry technologies in clinical laboratories

Xiao Chenyu^{* *}Correspondence: Xiao Chenyu, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China, Email:

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Description

Mass spectrometry is a technique of analysis that uses the spectrum produced by the ions in a sample to identify the chemicals that make up the sample. Medical practitioners are quickly come to rely on the discipline of mass spectrometry. Medical research and clinical diagnostics are expected to undergo a revolution as a result of the mass spectrometric analysis of proteins and metabolites. The mass spectrometry technology is utilised in clinical mass spectrometry for diagnostic purposes. Clinical mass spectrometry is used in medical labs to screen for toxicity, identify biomarkers and enzymes, and diagnose metabolism deficits. Clinical diagnostic mass spectrometers are useful instruments for a diagnostic medical laboratory since they can examine a little amount of sample for numerous things simultaneously. The key challenges in medical mass spectrometry applications are addressed in medical applications of mass spectrometry at a level suitable for the target audience. It will significantly advance the use of mass spectrometry in medicine.

Clinical laboratory studies necessitate a high degree of selectivity, precision, and sensitivity. Mass spectrometry is now used in nearly all clinical laboratories due to the rising number of therapeutic drugs from the fields of both small and large molecules, as well as the growing usage of contemporary screening techniques. Mass spectrometry's highly selective and sensitive targeted approach is frequently the only way to meet the demands of patient screening and therapeutic success monitoring. Mass spectrometry is no longer a novel analytical technique thanks to advancements in instrument design and downsizing of the separation technologies.

Latest advances and uses of clinical mass spectrometry

One of the emerging applications of clinical mass spectrometry is the quantitative detection of low concentrations of proteins, biomarkers, or pharmacological compounds. Researchers have been able to ascertain the pharmacokinetic characteristics of medications that have been administered in micro dosages thanks to the availability of small samples with low concentrations.

This guard against potential drug side effects while enabling researchers to learn how the drug interacts with the body. Clinical mass spectrometry's tiny sample and concentration requirements have also made it simpler to obtain information particular to pediatric patients, who occasionally cannot offer a large enough sample for conventional analysis techniques.

Clinical applications

Analysis of antibiotics: To identify antibiotic residues in the environment and food, numerous analytical techniques have been created and described. The most popular analytical method for monitoring and determination uses chromatographic separation and detection of antibiotics and their metabolites using various detectors. In many applications for the analysis of physiologically significant macromolecules, the electrospray ionisation approach has emerged as the method of choice. Due to the effective ionisation of polar antibiotics, the soft ionisation MS techniques Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) and ESI were shown to be the optimal method for analysis.

Newborn screening-amino acid analysis: The purpose of the Newborn Screening (NBS) programme is to detect unusual disorders, such as inborn metabolic abnormalities, in asymptomatic newborns as early as possible (IEM). In the meantime, regardless of risk, all newborns are included in the screening programme. IEM is a severe, degenerative, chronic disease with painful and erratic clinical manifestations that can range from an evident clinical state to symptoms of other diseases that are masked by IEM, to varied degrees of mental retardation and physical disabilities.

On-site mass spectrometry in OP-room: Devices and various techniques that provide immediate and adequate biochemical information on the numerous biopsies or continuous sampling during surgery could improve surgical on-site decision-making. The ability of several MS platforms to significantly influence surgical decision-making at various stages of clinical workflow has been demonstrated. Surgeons would tremendously benefit from using mass spectroscopy during the actual operation and having immediate knowledge about the removed tumor in order to accomplish this goal.