title: A method for monitoring and controlling reproducibility of intensity data in complex electrospray mass spectra: a thermometer ion-based strategy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Correlogic Systems, Inc., Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lecchi
authors.forename: Jinghua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Wesley S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Tzong-Hao
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ping F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Peltier