title: Role of mass spectrometry in steroid assays.
abstract: In addition to protein hormones, steroids measurement constitutes the basis of modern endocrinology. Immunoassays have shown their limits in this field. In contrast, mass spectrometry shows an excellent sensitivity and specificity that make it the method of choice for steroids assays. The recent introduction of UHPLC-MS is a major advance which reinforces this position. In fact, mass spectrometry provides a lot of advantages such as determination of certain steroids in saliva, diagnosis of enzyme deficiencies, or measurement of molecules previously inaccessible like aldosterone. However, standardization is still needed to ensure good comparability of results between laboratories. In the future, mass spectrometry should not replace the immunoassays but rather complement it.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de biochimie, établissement hospitalier universitaire d'Oran, 1(er)-Novembre-1954, BP n(o) 4166, Oran, Algeria. Electronic address: z-mustapha2@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: Mustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zendjabil
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de biochimie, établissement hospitalier universitaire d'Oran, 1(er)-Novembre-1954, BP n(o) 4166, Oran, Algeria.
authors.forename: Zineb
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chellouai
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de biochimie, établissement hospitalier universitaire d'Oran, 1(er)-Novembre-1954, BP n(o) 4166, Oran, Algeria.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abbou
mesh_terms: D004704:Endocrinology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013256:Steroids / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids
keywords: 17-hydroxyprogesterone; 17-hydroxyprogestérone; Estrogens; Estrogènes; Mass spectrometry; Spectrométrie de masse; Steroids; Stéroïdes; Testosterone; Testostérone