Characterization and classification of matrix effects in biological samples analyses.

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Matrix effects are common in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
• These effects can significantly impact the accuracy of quantitative analyses.
• Understanding and classifying matrix effects is crucial for reliable results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an exhaustive classification of matrix effects in LC-MS.
• To identify and categorize different types of matrix effects.
• To evaluate the prevalence of matrix effects in real-world samples.

Main Methods:

• Developed a classification system for matrix effects.
• Utilized four recovery values to determine matrix effect typology.
• Analyzed 198 compounds using solid-phase extraction (SPE) from plasma and urine.
• Performed liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) analysis.

Main Results:

• An exhaustive classification of eight matrix effect situations was proposed.
• Matrix effects were identified and classified for all 198 tested compounds.
• A significant majority (83%) of compounds exhibited notable matrix effects.

Conclusions:

• The proposed classification effectively categorizes matrix effects encountered in LC-MS.
• Matrix effects are prevalent and require careful consideration in sample preparation and analysis.
• The study highlights the importance of evaluating matrix effects for accurate LC-MS results.