Determination of testosterone by mass spectrometry
AssigneeQuest Diagnostics Investments Incorporated
InventorsMichael P. Caulfield, Darren A. Carns, Richard E. Reitz
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Abstract
Provided are methods for determining the presence or amount of testosterone in a test sample, comprising ionizing all or a portion of the testosterone present in the sample to produce one or more testosterone ions that are detectable in a mass spectrometer. All or a portion of the testosterone present in the sample is ionized to produce one or more testosterone ions, which may be isolated and fragmented to produce precursor ions. A separately detectable internal testosterone standard can be provided in the sample. In a preferred embodiment, the reference is 2,2,4,6,6-d5 testosterone.
Claims38
A method for determining the presence or amount of testosterone in a test sample comprising,
- (a) purifying testosterone from the test sample by liquid chromatography;
- (b) ionizing the purified testosterone to produce one or more testosterone ions detectable by a mass spectrometer having a mass/charge ratio selected from the group consisting of 289.1±0.5, 109.2±0.5, and 96.9±10.5;
- and
- (c) detecting the presence or amount of the testosterone ion(s) by a mass spectrometer, wherein the presence or amount of the testosterone ion(s) is related to the presence or amount of testosterone in the test sample, wherein purification is achieved using a chromatography system which is connected in-line to the mass spectrometer.
38-58. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.