A robust liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for total plasma homocysteine determination in clinical practice.
BACKGROUND
Total plasma homocysteine has emerged as an independent risk factor for vascular disease. To meet increasing requests by clinicians for this homocysteine determination, a rapid assay for a routine use has been developed.


METHODS
A robust, stable, isotope-dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method is described, including all the practical details and analytical performance results.


RESULTS
The method allows homocysteine quantitation over a linear working range up to 100 micromol/L, with the limit of quantification estimated at a low value of 0.09 micromol/L. Total analytical imprecision is less than 4%. Accuracy was assessed by measuring the homocysteine concentration in a serum Standard Reference Material.


CONCLUSIONS
The method was demonstrated to be quick, reliable and cheap after 1 year of use on a time-shared instrument in our hospital unit.
Ducros
Véronique
V
Département de Biologie Intégrée, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Grenoble, France. vducros@chu-grenoble.fr
Belva-Besnet
Hélène
H
Casetta
Bruno
B
Favier
Alain
A
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D012015:Reference Standards; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine