A method for monitoring and controlling reproducibility of intensity data in complex electrospray mass spectra: a thermometer ion-based strategy.
Reproducibility in mass spectral data is important in both biomarker discovery and spectral database searching. We report a strategy, employing a series of substituted benzylpyridinium thermometer ions that can be used to monitor changes in performance of multiple aspects of an electrospray ionization source that impact the intensity axis of a spectrum. Performance attributes, which could confound even isotope-based quantification strategies, are readily assessed using a mixture of thermometer ions. Based on the observed behavior of the ions, a procedure is proposed for monitoring instrument performance and compensating for factors that affect reproducibility across both time and instruments.
Lecchi
Paolo
P
Correlogic Systems, Inc., Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA.
Zhao
Jinghua
J
Wiggins
Wesley S
WS
Chen
Tzong-Hao
TH
Yip
Ping F
PF
Mansfield
Brian C
BC
Peltier
John M
JM