Abstract: Method for separating, detecting, and/or quantifying steroid isomers using differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) are provided herein. In accordance with various aspects of the applicant's teachings, the method can provide for the separation of racemic or non-racemic mixtures of steroid isomers that may be difficult to separate with conventional techniques, such as mass spectrometry (MS), including both steroid stereoisomers and constitutional steroid isomers.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to a sample processing system for analyzing a biological sample from a patient. The sample processing system comprises: a plurality of analyzers comprising at least one mass spectrometer, wherein each analyzer in the plurality of analyzers is configured to acquire at least one measurement value corresponding to at least one characteristic of the biological sample; at least one data storage component which stores (i) a list of parameters for the plurality of analyzers, and (ii) at least two condition sets, which contain data associated with completing one or more test orders. The condition sets contain data which differ by at least one variable; and a control system operatively coupled to the plurality of analyzers, and the at least one data storage component.

Abstract: A derivatizing reagent, set of derivatizing reagents, and derivatizing techniques are provided herein for the relative quantitation, absolute quantitation, or both, of analytes containing carboxyl and/or phenolic functional groups including those analytes that may be difficult to analyze via mass spectrometry using traditional techniques of ionization. By way of non-limiting examples, such analytes can include fatty acids, carnitines, eicosanoids, and estrogens. Methods for producing the derivatizing reagent are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for microbial identification using cleavable tags. Control information is sent to a mass spectrometer to fragment one or more nucleic acid primers labeled with a first tag and monitor for an intensity of the first tag in a mass spectrometry (MS) method. An ion source provides a beam of ions from a polymerase chain reaction amplified sample that includes one or more nucleic acid primers labeled with the first tag. The first tag binds to one or more nucleic acid primers of a known microbe and is cleaved from the nucleic acid primers during the MS method. The mass spectrometer receives the beam of ions and is adapted to perform the MS method on the beam of ions. If the intensity of the first tag received from the mass spectrometer exceeds a threshold value, the known microbe is identified in the sample.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to a sample processing system for analyzing a biological sample from a patient. The sample processing system comprises: a plurality of analyzers comprising at least one mass spectrometer, wherein each analyzer in the plurality of analyzers is configured to acquire at least one measurement value corresponding to at least one characteristic of the biological sample; at least one data storage component which stores (i) a list of parameters for the plurality of analyzers, and (ii) at least two condition sets, which contain data associated with completing one or more test orders. The condition sets contain data which differ by at least one variable; and a control system operatively coupled to the plurality of analyzers, and the at least one data storage component.

Abstract: An integrated sample processing system including an analyzer and a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The integrated sample processing system can perform multiple different types of detection, thereby providing improved flexibility and better accuracy in processing samples. The detection systems in the sample processing system may include an optical detection system and a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for microbial identification using cleavable tags. Control information is sent to a mass spectrometer to fragment one or more nucleic acid primers labeled with a first tag and monitor for an intensity of the first tag in a mass spectrometry (MS) method. An ion source provides a beam of ions from a polymerase chain reaction amplified sample that includes one or more nucleic acid primers labeled with the first tag. The first tag binds to one or more nucleic acid primers of a known microbe and is cleaved from the nucleic acid primers during the MS method. The mass spectrometer receives the beam of ions and is adapted to perform the MS method on the beam of ions. If the intensity of the first tag received from the mass spectrometer exceeds a threshold value, the known microbe is identified in the sample.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, kits, and apparatuses for MS-based quantification of a target analyte (e.g., a peptide, a hormone) in a sample are provided for increasing the productivity and/or throughput of samples by reducing the time and/or cost associated with conventional techniques for external instrument calibration that typically utilize a series of calibrators that are sequentially run through the same analytical process as a batch of samples. In various aspects, calibration mixtures are provided containing a known quantity of a plurality of calibrants for a target analyte of interest, with each calibrant being distinguishable in the calibration mixture by mass spectrometry such that a complete calibration curve can be generated from a single external calibration run.

Abstract: An integrated sample processing system including an analyzer and a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The integrated sample processing system can perform multiple different types of detection, thereby providing improved flexibility and better accuracy in processing samples. The detection systems in the sample processing system may include an optical detection system and a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A method and kit for detecting at least two vitamin D metabolites in a biological sample is disclosed, which comprises processing the biological sample to prepare the sample for LC-MS/MS analysis, passing the prepared sample through a liquid chromatography column having an outlet connected to an inlet port of a tandem mass spectrometer to separate said two vitamin D metabolites, if present in the sample, and introduce the two vitamin D metabolites into the tandem mass spectrometer. The method further comprises generating [M+H]+ ions of each of the two vitamin D metabolites in said tandem mass spectrometer, and generating two fragment ions of said [M+H]+ ions associated with said vitamin D metabolites, wherein said fragment ions are not due to water losses from the [M+H]+ ions; and detecting the fragment ions to identify presence of the two metabolites in the biological sample.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to a sample processing system for analyzing a biological sample from a patient. The sample processing system comprises: a plurality of analyzers comprising at least one mass spectrometer, wherein each analyzer in the plurality of analyzers is configured to acquire at least one measurement value corresponding to at least one characteristic of the biological sample; at least one data storage component which stores (i) a list of parameters for the plurality of analyzers, and (ii) at least two condition sets, which contain data associated with completing one or more test orders. The condition sets contain data which differ by at least one variable; and a control system operatively coupled to the plurality of analyzers, and the at least one data storage component.

Abstract: An integrated sample processing system including an analyzer and a mass spectrometer is disclosed. The integrated sample processing system can perform multiple different types of detection, thereby providing improved flexibility and better accuracy in processing samples. The detection systems in the sample processing system may include an optical detection system and a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing fluids on a macro- or micro-scale are described. In various aspects, a fluid may have a plurality of elongated (i.e., substantially rod-shaped) magnetic elements disposed therein within a fluid container. An illustrative fluid container is an actuator electrode or a processing vial of a microfluidic device, such as a digital microfluidic device. A magnet component may be configured to generate a magnetic force sufficient to influence the movement of the plurality of elongated magnetic elements within the fluid to be processed. For example, the magnetic force (or magnetic force gradient) may influence the plurality of elongated magnetic elements to rotate, spin, and/or move laterally side-to-side. The shape and movements of the plurality of elongated magnetic elements facilitate the rapid and efficient processing of the fluid, such as fluid mixing and/or fluid separation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for microbial identification using cleavable tags. Control information is sent to a mass spectrometer to fragment one or more nucleic acid primers labeled with a first tag and monitor for an intensity of the first tag in a mass spectrometry (MS) method. An ion source provides a beam of ions from a polymerase chain reaction amplified sample that includes one or more nucleic acid primers labeled with the first tag. The first tag binds to one or more nucleic acid primers of a known microbe and is cleaved from the nucleic acid primers during the MS method. The mass spectrometer receives the beam of ions and is adapted to perform the MS method on the beam of ions. If the intensity of the first tag received from the mass spectrometer exceeds a threshold value, the known microbe is identified in the sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for microbial identification using cleavable tags. Control information is sent to a mass spectrometer to select a peptide labeled with a first tag of a known microbe, fragment the labeled peptide of the known microbe, and monitor for an intensity of the first tag in an MRM method using a processor. An ion source provides a beam of ions from a sample that includes peptides labeled with the first tag. The first tag binds to a peptide of a known microbe and is cleaved from the peptide of the known microbe during mass spectrometry. The mass spectrometer receives the beam of ions and is adapted to perform the MRM method on the beam of ions. If the intensity of the first tag received from the mass spectrometer exceeds a threshold value, the known microbe is identified in the sample using the processor.

Abstract: Labeling reagents, sets of labeling reagents, and labeling techniques are provided for the relative quantitation, absolute quantitation, or both, of ketone or aldehyde compounds including, but not limited to, analytes comprising steroids or ketosteroids and includes testosterone. The analytes can be medical or pharmaceutical compounds in biological samples. Methods for labeling, analyzing, and quantifying ketone or aldehyde compounds are also disclosed as are methods that also use mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A method, a labeling reagent, sets of labeling reagents, and labeling techniques are provided for the analysis of ketosterol biomarkers such as bile acid precursors from human plasma, serum or whole blood. This method is used for new born screening for Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis (CTX). Methods for labeling, analyzing, and quantifying ketosterol biomarkers are also disclosed as are methods that also use mass spectrometry.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting allergens using mass spectrometry are provided herein. In some aspects, a sample can be screened for the presence or quantity of ovalbumin, lysozyme, casein (isoform S1 and S2), lactoglobulin, high and low glutens, wheat, rye, oats, barley, mustard, sesame, and various types of nuts including macadamia, pistachio, brazil, walnuts, peanuts and hazelnuts by detecting one or more peptides specific to the allergen of interest using selected MRM transitions.

Abstract: A method is described for mass spectrometric analysis, detection and quantification of catecholamines. The methods can comprise reacting the catecholamines with a 4-aminoantipyrine reagent and detecting and/or quantifying the adduct produced by the reaction. The methods can also allow for multiplexing. Compounds formed by the reactions are also provided.

Abstract: A method is described for mass spectrometric analysis of a sample comprising phenolic OH, such as a steroid comprising a phenolic OH, using a quaternary amino oxy Cookson (QAOC) reagent. The QAOC reagent can improve ionization and fragmentation properties of phenolic OH samples, which can thereby improve quantitation and identification. The method can include derivatizing the phenolic OH sample with the QAOC reagent to create an adduct and analyzing the adduct using mass spectrometry. Derivatization of the sample can be a one-step reaction where the QAOC reagent comprises an aminooxy MS tag or can be a multi-step reaction, where the adduct is formed by the reaction of carbonyl substituted PTAD based reagent and the sample followed by combination with an aminooxy MS tag. The sample can also be enriched prior to reacting it with the reagent. The method can also allow for multiplexing.