LC-MS (/MS) in Clinical Toxicology Screening Methods

Authors

  • Véronique Viette ADMed Laboratoires, 20 rue de Chasseral CH-2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
  • Denis Hochstrasser Department of genetic and laboratory medicine Division of laboratory medicine, Toxicology laboratory Geneva University Hospital 4 rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Geneva, University of Lausanne 20 Bd D'Yvoy, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland; Swiss Center of Applied Human Toxicology University of Geneva, CMU 1 rue Michel-Servet, CH-1206 Geneva, Switzerland
  • Marc Fathi Department of genetic and laboratory medicine Division of laboratory medicine, Toxicology laboratory Geneva University Hospital 4 rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. marc.fathi@hcuge.ch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2012.339

Keywords:

Clinical toxicology, Identification, Lc/ms, Screening

Abstract

Toxicological screening is the analysis of biological samples to detect and identify unknown compounds. The high selectivity and sensitivity of liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) or tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) technology provide an attractive alternative to the current methods (LC-UV, GC/MS, etc.). For these reasons, an increasing number of applications are being published. This paper is a brief overview of LC-MS(/MS) screening methods developed for clinical toxicology in recent years. Various sample treatments, chromatographic separations and detection by mass spectrometry can be combined to obtain screening methods adapted to the constraints and needs of clinical toxicology laboratories. Currently the techniques are in the hands of specialists, mainly in academic institutions. However, the evolution in technology should allow application of these techniques as a tool in toxicology laboratories, thus allowing a more widespread exploitation of their potential.

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Published

2012-05-30

Issue

Section

Scientific Articles

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