Mass spectrometry in clinical chemistry

This chapter discusses the nature of mass spectra and the functional elements of mass spectrometers. The currently employed analytical techniques—such as the combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and ionization techniques—are also reviewed. The “medical-mass spectrometers” technology has advanced to routine clinical use. The most important areas of its applications are multibed monitoring in intensive care and trauma units, monitoring during surgery, and physiological testing and diagnosis. The spark-source-mass spectrometry is useful for the comprehensive survey of all the elements at ultratrace levels in a single analysis. Additive, subtractive, and synergistic interactions can be studied by this method. The GC/MS-computer technique is well suited for the multicomponent analysis of endogenous metabolites in body fluids. This technique—when chemical ionization and fragmentography are available—is ideally suited for monitoring the individual drug levels and for detecting, identifying, and quantifying the drugs and metabolites in pharmacological studies.