Inter-laboratory LC-MS/MS processes compared

Scientists have used quantitative analysis processes to determine the comparability of in-house liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods.

In a study undertaken by British American Tobacco Group Research and Development, and published in BMC Research Notes, scientists noted that biomarkers have been used extensively in clinical studies to assess toxicant exposure in smokers and non-smokers, as well as evaluate novel tobacco products.

However, the laboratories involved all used in-house LC-MS/MS processes, so the team sought to determine to what extent their findings were comparable.

Each laboratory used their in-house LC-MS/MS method and a common internal standard.

The team found that repeatability and reproducibility variations, findings within laboratories were lower in inter-laboratory studies than between-laboratory studies, with an inter-laboratory variation of 12.2 per cent.

However, the scientists determined that this inter-laboratory comparison illustrated a fairly clear consensus between laboratories, although more work is needed to reduce consistent measurement biases.