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LC-MS/MS in Clinical Diagnostics: A Primer on Implementation and Quality Management

This Nature Reviews primer provides a comprehensive overview of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for clinical laboratory applications, covering fundamental concepts, experimental design, and quality management essentials. The authors discuss key clinical applications including therapeutic drug monitoring, endocrinology, and toxicology, while addressing the significant challenges laboratories face in implementing and maintaining LC-MS/MS platforms. Emerging applications in proteomics and metabolomics are highlighted as future growth areas.

The original study

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for clinical diagnostics.

Authors
Thomas SN, French D, Jannetto PJ, Rappold BA, Clarke WA
Journal
Nature reviews. Methods primers
Type
Journal Article, Review
PMID
36532107
Read the original study →

Original abstract

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical tool used for the analysis of a wide range of substances and matrices; it is increasingly utilized for clinical applications in laboratory medicine. This Primer includes an overview of basic mass spectrometry concepts, focusing primarily on tandem mass spectrometry. We discuss experimental considerations and quality management, and provide an overview of some key applications in the clinic. Lastly, the Primer discusses significant challenges for implementation of mass spectrometry in clinical laboratories and provides an outlook of where there are emerging clinical applications for this technology.