Chromatography-isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry Research Articles

Certification of visinin-like protein-1 (VILIP-1) certified reference material by amino acid-based and sulfur-based liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry.

As an emerging neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a leading cause of dementia in older adults. Visinin-like protein-1 (VILIP-1) is an increasingly used biomarker for AD besides the widely accepted Aβ1-40, Aβ1-42, and tau. However, significant variations exist in the commercial immuno-based assays for VILIP-1 quantification, underlining the necessity to establish a traceability chain. Certified reference materials (CRMs) located at the top of the traceability chain are traceability sources for relevant matrix standard materials. In this work, VILIP-1 solution CRM with a certified value and uncertainty of 39.82±1.52 μg·g-1 was developed and certified using amino acid-based isotope dilution mass spectrometry (AA-ID-MS) and sulfur-based isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-MS). Certified values from both strategies showed great consistency, with traceability to SI units. Moreover, the candidate VILIP-1 CRM shows excellent homogeneity and can be stable for at least 7 days at -20°C and 12 months at -70°C. The VILIP-1 CRM developed can be used in value assignment to secondary calibrators and clinical matrix CRMs, showing prospects in early diagnosis and disease monitoring for AD.

Quantitative Bioreactor Monitoring of Intracellular Bacterial Metabolites in Clostridium autoethanogenum Using Liquid Chromatography-Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry.

We report a liquid chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of 131 intracellular bacterial metabolites of Clostridium autoethanogenum. A comprehensive mixture of uniformly 13C-labeled internal standards (U-13C IS) was biosynthesized from the closely related bacterium Clostridium pasteurianum using 4% 13C–glucose as a carbon source. The U-13C IS mixture combined with 12C authentic standards was used to validate the linearity, precision, accuracy, repeatability, limits of detection, and quantification for each metabolite. A robust-fitting algorithm was employed to reduce the weight of the outliers on the quantification data. The metabolite calibration curves were linear with R2 ≥ 0.99, limits of detection were ≤1.0 μM, limits of quantification were ≤10 μM, and precision/accuracy was within RSDs of 15% for all metabolites. The method was subsequently applied for the daily monitoring of the intracellular metabolites of C. autoethanogenum during a CO gas fermentation over 40 days as part of a study to optimize biofuel production. The concentrations of the metabolites were estimated at steady states of different pH levels using the robust-fitting mathematical approach, and we demonstrate improved accuracy of results compared to conventional regression. Metabolic pathway analysis showed that reactions of the incomplete (branched) tricarboxylic acid “cycle” were the most affected pathways associated with the pH shift in the bioreactor fermentation of C. autoethanogenum and the concomitant changes in ethanol production.

An accuracy-based proficiency testing programme with metrological reference values for the mass fraction of acesulfame potassium and sucralose in cake mix flour

This paper describes a metrological approach to evaluate the measurement capability of laboratories participating in a then Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation [APLAC, now Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation] proficiency testing (PT) programme on mass fraction of acesulfame potassium and sucralose in cake mix flour. The programme was jointly organised by the Chemical Metrology Laboratory of the Health Sciences Authority, Singapore, and the Singapore Accreditation Council. Through the extensive APLAC network of accreditation bodies, 41 nominated laboratories from 32 economies registered, of which 40 laboratories submitted their results. Reference values of artificial sweeteners in the programme for performance evaluation were obtained from a high-accuracy liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) method. One of the unique features of this PT programme was the provision of pure substance certified reference materials (CRMs) of acesulfame potassium and sucralose to the participating laboratories as calibration standards to ensure comparability and metrological traceability of results. The participating laboratories’ performance, based on z-scores, were evaluated using the assigned reference value determined from IDMS. Five and one of the laboratories’ results would be incorrectly evaluated using consensus value calculated from the laboratories’ results for performance evaluation and using commercial standard as calibrant, respectively. This PT programme demonstrates the importance of the use of metrologically traceable reference values as the assigned values for appropriate evaluation of accuracy and reliable assessment. The provision of CRMs also heightened the testing laboratories’ awareness on the importance of using CRMs as calibrants for accurate measurements.

First Indonesian proficiency testing using reference value from isotope dilution mass spectrometry method for benzoic acid, methyl paraben, and n-butyl paraben in sweet soy sauce

Research Center for Chemistry-Indonesian Institute of Sciences (RCChem-LIPI) has successfully organized proficiency testing (PT) for the determination of benzoic acid, methyl paraben, and n-butyl paraben in sweet soy sauce. This is the first PT in Indonesia that uses reference values derived from a primary method gas chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry method. Twenty participants from four economies registered in this PT. This paper presents the procedures in the preparation of the PT samples, the homogeneity and stability checks, as well as in the determination of the assigned values. The test samples were a candidate certified reference material prepared in accordance with ISO 17034 and ISO Guide 35. The performance evaluation of participants’ results was conducted in accordance with ISO 13528 by using the PROLab™ software. This paper also discusses the approaches taken in the calculation of the performance’s scores which were set according to the criterion required in homogeneity check, stability check, and limit of uncertainty.

Development of certified reference material NMIJ CRM 6205-a for the validation of DNA quantification methods: accurate mass concentrations of 600-bp DNA solutions having artificial sequences.

Two 600-bp DNA solutions (DNA600-G and DNA600-T) were developed as certified reference material, NMIJ CRM 6205-a, for the validation of DNA quantification methods. Both DNA600-G and DNA600-T are ideal as "spike-in control" because these materials have artificial nucleic acid sequences. The certified values were determined as the mass concentration of total DNA (whole DNA materials in sample solution regardless of sequence) at 25°C by formic acid hydrolysis/liquid chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) based on the amount of phosphorus. DNAs were synthesized, and plasmids including the synthesized DNAs were cloned into Escherichia coli DH5α. The amplified plasmids were digested with a restriction enzyme and highly purified. Then, the purified DNAs were diluted with water to approximately 1ng/μL. By using the CRM-validated methods in fields where DNA quantification is required, the reliability of DNA quantification could be improved. Graphical abstract.

Provision of proficiency testing for histamine mass fraction in canned tuna to improve the capability of chemical laboratories in the Philippines

In this work, two reference materials (RMs) for mass fraction of histamine in canned tuna were developed to address the need of local testing laboratories for matrix RMs and a PT scheme for histamine. A validated method using HPLC with fluorescence detector (340 nm for excitation and 445 nm for emission) was applied with post-column derivatization for the RM’s homogeneity and stability studies. Acceptable results were obtained after statistical evaluation of homogeneity and stability according to IUPAC Harmonized Protocol and ISO Guide 35, respectively. Two PT exercises for histamine determination based on ISO/IEC 17043 were organized in 2014 and 2015 with the assigned values of 148 and 65 mg/kg, respectively. These reference values were obtained using exact matching liquid chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC–IDMS) with gravimetric sample preparation. The corresponding uncertainty of the reference value was obtained by ISO GUM approach where the characterization of the sample gave the highest contribution (41 %). The satisfactory z-score performance evaluated from the 12 laboratories was 50 % and 58.3 % in the first and second PT round, respectively. Most of the laboratories used AOAC Official Method 977.13 but not all conducted method validation. The 50 % decrease in unsatisfactory results in the second PT round is a significant improvement in the local laboratory performance for histamine analysis. However, the provision of more PT schemes and the increased use of CRMs in the future are still needed by these laboratories for external quality assurance and method validation to enhance the present capability.

Quantification of Total Vitamin-D-Binding Protein and the Glycosylated Isoforms by Liquid Chromatography-Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry.

Vitamin-D-binding protein (VDBP), a transporter of 25-hydroxyvitamin D metabolites, has three common isoforms. The relationship of the isoforms and their glycosylation state with various diseases has been under recent examination. In this work, liquid chromatography coupled to isotope dilution mass spectrometry was evaluated for quantification of VDBP, the three common isoforms, and total glycosylation. Protocols using guanidine, urea, RapiGest, trifluoroethanol, or tris buffer were also evaluated for optimal tryptic digestion. Differences in peptide release were detected between purified and plasma VDBP; however, for both protein sources, ELPEHTVK, TSALSAK, and VLEPTLK concentrations were reproducible between most protocols tested. The isoform-specific peptides, LPDATPK, LPDATPTELAK, and LPEATPTELAK, were optimally released when TFE was added to plasma. The total VDBP concentration calculated from the three shared peptides resulted in 97.6% accuracy compared with the concentration from amino acid analysis. Glycosylation of VDBP was also calculated for purified protein and donor samples using the ratio of the isoform-specific peptide(s) to the total protein concentration. Glycosylation of purified VDBP was found to be 99.5-111.1% the value determined by semiquantitative analysis of the intact protein by LC-MS. This approach may be used to quantify other samples containing a mixture of isoforms and post-translational modifications.

Formic acid hydrolysis/liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry: An accurate method for large DNA quantification

Liquid chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) with formic acid hydrolysis was established for the accurate quantification of λDNA. The over-decomposition of nucleobases in formic acid hydrolysis was restricted by optimizing the reaction temperature and the reaction time, and accurately corrected by using deoxynucleotides (dNMPs) and isotope-labeled dNMPs as the calibrator and the internal standard, respectively. The present method could quantify λDNA with an expanded uncertainty of 4.6% using 10fmol of λDNA. The analytical results obtained with the present method were validated by comparing with the results of phosphate-base quantification by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed good agreement with each other. We conclude that the formic acid hydrolysis/LC-IDMS method can quantify λDNA accurately and is promising as the primary method for the certification of DNA as reference material.

Validation of a GC–IDMS method for the metrologically traceable quantification of selected FAMEs in biodiesel

Current methods for the analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) in rapeseed oil-based biodiesel refer to operationally defined measurands, which is a practical solution for routine analysis. In this paper, a new method for the SI-traceable quantification of selected FAMEs in biodiesel and its validation are described. This method has the potential to be a reference method for applications requiring structurally defined measurands and traceability to the SI as it allows direct comparisons to well-characterised calibrants through the use of isotopically labelled analogues of the analytes as well as establishing a full uncertainty budget. The method is based on gas chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Its performance is demonstrated through its implementation and validation in two independent laboratories and is shown to provide reliable and traceable results for selected FAMEs in biodiesel test samples.

Developing a reference measurement procedure for free glycerol in human serum by two-step gas chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry

BackgroundFree glycerol in human serum is measured in clinical laboratories using enzymatic methods, which can be affected by interferences from biological samples. These methods are not applicable when stable isotopic tracers are used to determine lipid kinetics. Hence, a reference measurement procedure for free glycerol in human serum is needed. MethodsA reference measurement procedure based on two-step gas chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry (GC–IDMS) was developed for the measurement of free glycerol in human serum. This procedure involved spiking with 13C3-glycerol, protein precipitation and cation exchange SPE, followed by two-step derivatization with 1-butylboronic acid and N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide. Tripalmitin certified reference material (CRM) was used as the calibration standard to ensure metrological traceability. ResultsGood precision and accuracy were obtained as demonstrated by relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.51%–3.33%, with average recoveries over 98%. The relative measurement uncertainty was below 3% with major contributions from the concentration of glycerol calibration solution, choice of ion pair, linear regression, and measurement precision. ConclusionsWith good accuracy and precision, as well as clear metrological traceability, the developed GC–IDMS procedure is useful in producing traceable and accurate measurement of free glycerol in human serum.

Simultaneous determination of creatinine and creatine in human serum by double-spike isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

This work describes the first multiple spiking isotope dilution procedure for organic compounds using (13)C labeling. A double-spiking isotope dilution method capable of correcting and quantifying the creatine-creatinine interconversion occurring during the analytical determination of both compounds in human serum is presented. The determination of serum creatinine may be affected by the interconversion between creatine and creatinine during sample preparation or by inefficient chemical separation of those compounds by solid phase extraction (SPE). The methodology is based on the use differently labeled (13)C analogues ((13)C1-creatinine and (13)C2-creatine), the measurement of the isotopic distribution of creatine and creatinine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and the application of multiple linear regression. Five different lyophilized serum-based controls and two certified human serum reference materials (ERM-DA252a and ERM-DA253a) were analyzed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of the proposed double-spike LC-MS/MS method. The methodology was applied to study the creatine-creatinine interconversion during LC-MS/MS and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses and the separation efficiency of the SPE step required in the traditional gas chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (GC-IDMS) reference methods employed for the determination of serum creatinine. The analysis of real serum samples by GC-MS showed that creatine-creatinine separation by SPE can be a nonquantitative step that may induce creatinine overestimations up to 28% in samples containing high amounts of creatine. Also, a detectable conversion of creatine into creatinine was observed during sample preparation for LC-MS/MS. The developed double-spike LC-MS/MS improves the current state of the art for the determination of creatinine in human serum by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), because corrections are made for all the possible errors derived from the sample preparation step.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry method for the reliable quantification of alkylphenols in environmental water samples by isotope pattern deconvolution

We present here a new measurement method for the rapid extraction and accurate quantification of technical nonylphenol (NP) and 4-t-octylphenol (OP) in complex matrix water samples by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The extraction of both compounds is achieved in 30min by means of hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) using 1-octanol as acceptor phase, which provides an enrichment (preconcentration) factor of 800. On the other hand we have developed a quantification method based on isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) and singly 13C1-labeled compounds. To this end the minimal labeled 13C1-4-(3,6-dimethyl-3-heptyl)-phenol and 13C1-t-octylphenol isomers were synthesized, which coelute with the natural compounds and allows the compensation of the matrix effect. The quantification was carried out by using isotope pattern deconvolution (IPD), which permits to obtain the concentration of both compounds without the need to build any calibration graph, reducing the total analysis time. The combination of both extraction and determination techniques have allowed to validate for the first time a HF-LPME methodology at the required levels by legislation achieving limits of quantification of 0.1ngmL−1 and recoveries within 97–109%. Due to the low cost of HF-LPME and total time consumption, this methodology is ready for implementation in routine analytical laboratories.

Determination of Urea in Milk by Liquid Chromatography-Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry

A definitive method based on liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) has been developed for the determination of milk urea, an indicator of nutrition status for the lactating animals. The milk samples were treated twice by sequentially adding acetonitrile and chloroform to precipitate proteins and then were directly separated using normal phase liquid chromatography without chemical derivatization. After the matrix separation, exact matching IDMS was used for the determination of milk urea, with high accuracy, high precision, good linearity and low uncertainty. The recoveries obtained for the four spiked milk samples were 100.6–102.2%. The linear range of signal responses was 10–2000 mg · kg−1 with a linearity coefficient of 0.9995. The intraday and interday precisions in terms with relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 0.17–0.38% and 0.28–0.40%, respectively. The uncertainties of the whole sample analysis process were estimated to be 0.83%, 0.60%, and 0.64% for three samples with concentrations of 151.28, 184.36, and 266.66 mg · kg−1.

Development of hemoglobin A1c certified reference material by liquid chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry

We report the development of a National Institute of Metrology (NIM) hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) certified reference material (CRM). Each CRM unit contains about 10 μL of hemoglobin. Both hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin were quantitatively determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) with synthesized VHLTPE and glycated VHLTPE as standards. The mass fraction of synthesized VHLTPE or glycated VHLTPE was also quantitatively determined by HPLC-IDMS with NIM amino acid CRMs as standards. The homogeneity and stability of the CRMs were examined with a commercial HbA(1c) analyzer based on the HPLC principle. Fifteen units were randomly selected for homogeneity examination, and statistical analysis showed there was no inhomogeneity. Examination of the stability showed that the CRM was stable for at least 6 months at -80 °C. Uncertainty components of the balance, amino acid purity, hydrolysis and proteolysis efficiency, method reproducibility, homogeneity, and stability were taken into consideration for uncertainty evaluation. The certified value of NIM HbA(1c) CRM was expressed as the ratio of HbA(1c) to total hemoglobin in moles, and was (9.6 ± 1.9)%. The CRM can be used as a calibration or validation standard for clinical diagnostics. It is expected to improve the comparability for HbA(1c) measurement in China.

Lambda genomic DNA quantification using ultrasonic treatment followed by liquid chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry

Quantification of genomic DNA that is traceable to the SI was performed successfully by measuring the individual nucleotides. Specifically, ultrasound was used to shear lambda genomic DNA into fragments of less than 200 base pairs, followed by deoxyribonuclease Ι and phosphodiesterase Ι digestion and liquid chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC-IDMS) quantification to estimate the mass fraction of the lambda DNA, based on the constituent deoxynucleotide monophosphates (dNMPs) within the molecule. Digital PCR (dPCR) was employed to quantify the same lambda DNA solution to provide independent data for comparing the performance of two quantitative methods. On the basis of the LC-IDMS measurement after ultrasonic treatment of the sample, the concentration of lambda DNA was 273.1 ± 9.8 μg/g (expanded uncertainty at the 95% confidence interval). This shows good agreement with the data from dPCR. Additionally, the result calculated on the basis of the sum of the concentrations of the four dNMPs is the same as that calculated on the basis of the sequence, which indicates that knowledge of the DNA sequence and length is unnecessary to measure the total DNA concentration when applying ultrasonic treatment-LC-IDMS.

Determination of pesticides in tea by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with solid-phase microextraction

The aim of this study was to develop a headspace solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-IDMS) method for the simultaneous quantification of 8 pesticides in tea samples. The thermodynamic equilibrium between analytes and isotope labeled analogues was studied in this paper. In addition, different parameters affecting pesticide extraction by HS-SPME were considered and optimized, including type of fiber coating, extraction temperature/time, and desorption temperature/time. In the optimized method, the isotopic labels spiked in incurred samples were equilibrated for 15 min before HS-SPME, and analytes were absorbed for 70 min at 70 °C in the sample headspace with a 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber. By using the isotopic dilution technique, the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 8 analytes was improved to 3.7–10.2%, compared with the values of 6.5–26.7% using the traditional external standard method. The recoveries were between 86.7 and 112.8%, and the limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 1.2 to 19.6 ng g−1 (except cypermethrin, 22.1 ng g−1). Compared with the conventional sample preparation methods, the proposed method has the advantage of being quick, easy to operate, highly sensitive and also solvent saving. The optimized HS-SPME/GC-IDMS method was not only suitable for qualitative analysis but also could be successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of pesticides in tea.

Simplified absolute metabolite quantification by gas chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry on the basis of commercially available source material

In the field of metabolomics, GC–MS has rather established itself as a tool for semi-quantitative strategies like metabolic fingerprinting or metabolic profiling. Absolute quantification of intra- or extracellular metabolites is nowadays mostly accomplished by application of diverse LC–MS techniques. Only few groups have so far adopted GC–MS technology for this exceptionally challenging task. Besides numerous and deeply investigated problems related to sample generation, the pronounced matrix effects in biological samples have led to the almost mandatory application of isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) for the accurate determination of absolute metabolite concentrations. Nevertheless, access to stable isotope labeled internal standards (ILIS), which are in many cases commercially unavailable, is quite laborious and very expensive. Here we present an improved and simplified gas chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry (GC–IDMS) protocol for the absolute determination of intra- and extracellular metabolite levels. Commercially available 13C-labeled algal cells were used as a convenient source for the preparation of internal standards. Advantages as well as limitations of the described method are discussed.

Quantification of carcinogenic 4- to 6-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human urine by solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pollutants found in living and working environments. The aim of this study was to develop a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography (GC)-isotope dilution mass spectrometry method for the quantification of 10 four- to six-ring PAHs in urine samples. Seven of the selected PAHs have been classified as carcinogenic. Under the final conditions, analytes were sampled with a 100-μm polydimethylsiloxane SPME fibre for 60 min at 80 °C and desorbed in the injection port of the GC at 270 °C. Fluoranthene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and benzo[ghi]perylene were separated using a highly arylene-modified phase capillary column and quantified by MS using eight deuterated PAHs as surrogate internal standards. Limits of quantification (LOQ) were in the 0.5- to 2.2-ng/L range. Validation showed linear dynamic ranges up to 340 ng/L, inter- and intra-run precisions <20%, and accuracies within 20% of spiked concentrations. Matrix effect evaluation and the use of control charts to monitor process performances showed that the isotope dilution approach allowed for the control of bias sources. Urinary PAHs were above or equal to LOQ, depending on different compounds, in 58-100% (min-max), 40-100% and 5-39% of samples from coke oven workers (n = 12), asphalt workers (n = 10) and individuals not occupationally exposed to PAHs (n = 18), respectively. Chrysene was the most abundant PAH determined with median levels of 62.6, 6.9 and <0.6 ng/L, respectively. These results show that the method is suitable for quantifying carcinogenic PAHs in specimens from individuals with different levels of PAH exposure.

Proposed Serum Cholesterol Reference Measurement Procedure by Gas Chromatography–Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry

Our purpose was to establish a mass spectrometry reference measurement procedure (RMP) for cholesterol to use in the CDC's standardization programs. We explored a gas chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (GC-IDMS) procedure using a multilevel standard calibration curve to quantify samples with varying cholesterol concentrations. We calibrated the mass spectrometry instrument by isotope dilution with a pure primary standard reference material and an isotopically enriched cholesterol analog as the internal standard (IS). We diluted the serum samples with Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4, 0.05 mol/L, 0.25% Triton X-100) before analysis. We used 17 serum pools, 10 native samples, and 2 standard reference materials (SRMs). We compared the GC-IDMS measurements with the CDC's modified Abell-Levy-Brodie-Kendall (AK) RMP measurements and assessed method accuracy by analyzing 2 SRMs. We evaluated the procedure for lack of interference by analyzing serum spiked with a mixture of 7 sterols. The mean percent bias between the AK and the GC-IDMS RMP was 1.6% for all samples examined. The mean percent bias from NIST's RMP was 0.5% for the SRMs. The total %CVs for SRM 1951b levels I and II were 0.61 and 0.73%, respectively. We found that none of the sterols investigated interfered with the cholesterol measurement. The low imprecision, linear response, lack of interferences, and acceptable bias vs the NIST primary RMP qualifies this procedure as an RMP for determining serum cholesterol. The CDC will adopt and implement this GC-IDMS procedure for cholesterol standardization.

Certified reference materials (GBW09170 and 09171) of creatinine in human serum

Creatinine is the most widely used clinical marker for assessing renal function. Concentrations of creatinine in human serum need to be carefully checked in order to ensure accurate diagnosis of renal function. Therefore, development of certified reference materials (CRMs) of creatinine in serum is of increasing importance. In this study, two new CRMs (Nos. GBW09170 and 09171) for creatinine in human serum have been developed. They were prepared with mixtures of several dozens of healthy people's and kidney disease patient's serum, respectively. The certified values of 8.10, 34.1 mg/kg for these two CRMs have been assigned by liquid chromatography–isotope dilution mass spectrometry (LC–IDMS) method which was validated by using standard reference material (SRM) of SRM909b (a reference material obtained from National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST). The expanded uncertainties of certified values for low and high concentrations were estimated to be 1.2 and 1.1%, respectively. The certified values were further confirmed by an international intercomparison for the determination of creatinine in human serum (Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance, CCQM) of K80 (CCQM-K80). These new CRMs of creatinine in human serum pool are totally native without additional creatinine spiked for enrichment. These new CRMs are capable of validating routine clinical methods for ensuring accuracy, reliability and comparability of analytical results from different clinical laboratories. They can also be used for instrument validation, development of secondary reference materials, and evaluating the accuracy of high order clinical methods for the determination of creatinine in human serum.