Minimization of adverse effects of blank matrices from various apparatuses in the downsizing of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry-based metabolomics

Abstract

The ability to reduce sample volume required for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) metabolome analyses is limited by the effects of blank matrices. In this study, a GC/MS metabolome analytical method requiring only 5μL of plasma obtained by fingertip puncture, was developed, while minimizing the adverse effects of blank matrices. The applicability of the newly developed method was investigated using mice tail venous blood. Removing the effects of blank matrices greatly affected the detection repeatability for trace amounts. The newly developed method has higher metabolite coverage and higher sensitivity than those of the conventional method. This study is the first to demonstrate that comparable, or improved, metabolome profile data can be obtained with one-tenth the plasma volume required for the conventional method.