Clinical applications for high resolution mass spectrometry

LC-HRMS technology has been theorised as the single most suitable technique for toxicology testing. Coupling the power to separate complex mixtures with the accurate mass determinations of high-resolution mass spectrometry, this technologies adoption and implementation into routine clinical practice at a tertiary hospital was investigated. The LC-HRMS was found suitable to perform general unknown toxicology testing, unequivocally determining a wide range of drugs and provide insights into illicit drug use in the hospital setting. The large raw data sets were also shown to allow retrospective analysis to identify drugs unknown at the time of initial testing.