LC-MS: A Liquid Chromatography (LC) instrument attached to a Mass Spectrometer (MS).

Liquid Chromatography:

• Samples are swept through the column by a constant flow of liquid (solvents or water)
• The compounds within the sample are separated as they pass through, or interact with, the mesh inside the column
• As the composition of the liquid changes (from less to more solvent) different compounds are released (eluted) from the column
• As the compounds are released they are analysed using Mass Spectrometry

This technique allows complex biological samples to be separated and analysed effectively.

• Low flow rates can be used to separate samples more slowly and increase the ability to detect low concentration compounds more accurately
• Metabolites can be quantified by this method
• Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC), offers increased resolution, sensitivity and speed over standard LC