Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter September 21, 2011

A robust liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for total plasma homocysteine determination in clinical practice

  • Véronique Ducros , Hélène Belva-Besnet , Bruno Casetta and Alain Favier

Abstract

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 100μmol/L, with the limit of quantification estimated at a low value of 0.09μmol/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 1year of use on a time-shared instrument in our hospital unit.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2006;44:987–90.


Corresponding author: Véronique Ducros, Département de Biologie Intégrée, Pavillon B, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, BP 217, 38043 Grenoble cedex, France Phone: +33-476765484, Fax: +33-476765664,

References

1. Ducros V, Schmitt D, Pernod G, Faure H, Polack B, Favier A. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of total homocysteine in human plasma by stable isotope dilution: method and clinical applications. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl 1999; 729:333–9.10.1016/S0378-4347(99)00171-1Search in Google Scholar

2. Magera MJ, Lacey JM, Casetta B, Rinaldo P. Method for the determination of total homocysteine in plasma and urine by stable isotope dilution and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Clin Chem 1999; 45:1517–22.10.1093/clinchem/45.9.1517Search in Google Scholar

3. Nelson BC, Pfeiffer CM, Sniegoski LT, Satterfield MB. Development and evaluation of an isotope dilution LC/MS method for the determination of total homocysteine in human plasma. Anal Chem 2003; 75:775–84.10.1021/ac0204799Search in Google Scholar PubMed

4. Satterfield MB, Sniegoski LT, Welch MJ, Nelson BC, Pfeiffer CM. Comparison of isotope dilution mass spectrometry methods for the determination of total homocysteine in plasma and serum. Anal Chem 2003; 75:4631–8.10.1021/ac034207xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

5. Fraser CG, Hyltofs Petersen P, Libeer JC, Ricos C. Proposals for setting generally applicable quality goals solely based on biology. Ann Clin Biochem 1997; 34:8–12.10.1177/000456329703400103Search in Google Scholar PubMed

6. Rasmussen K, Moller J. Total homocysteine measurement in clinical practice. Ann Clin Biochem 2000; 37:627–48.10.1258/0004563001899915Search in Google Scholar PubMed

7. Tuschl K, Bodamer OA, Erwa W, Mülh A. Rapid analysis of total plasma homocysteine by tandem mass spectrometry. Clin Chim Acta 2005; 351:139–41.10.1016/j.cccn.2004.08.016Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Received: 2006-3-6
Accepted: 2006-5-16
Published Online: 2011-9-21
Published in Print: 2006-8-1

©2006 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

Downloaded on 28.3.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/CCLM.2006.178/html
Scroll to top button