High‐throughput Metabolite Detection and Quantitative–qualitative Bioanalysis

Abstract

This article provides an overview of commonly used mass spectrometry systems in the pharmaceutical industry with the focus on the applications of these MS-based technologies in detecting and identifying structures of drug metabolites. Characteristics of different type of mass analyzers such as quadrupole, ion-trap, and time-of-flight detectors, and scan functions that can be utilized for each type of the detector in analysis of drug metabolites are reviewed. Recent software advancements in the automated analysis of high resolution mass spectral data, which enable a higher throughput analysis of biological samples for the detection and identification of drug metabolites, are also described. This article also provides a review of the technique involving simultaneous qualitative and quantitative sample analysis using high resolution mass spectrometry.