The analysis of thiodiglycollic acid by selected ion monitoring

A selected ion monitoring assay for thiodiglycollic acid in urine is described. Urine samples are analysed by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as their dibutyl esters using pimelic acid as an internal standard. Rapid analysis was achieved by the simplification of sample preparation. The assay has proved to be reliable, with a detection limit of less than 0.5 mumol/l. The excretion of large amounts of thiodiglycollic acid in premature babies urine has been confirmed, with the greatest excretion occurring from those neonates born with a gestational age of 30 wk or less.