Some considerations on quantitative methodology and detection limits in organic mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometric sensitivity data for the compounds cholesterol, cholestane, DDT, decafluorotriphenylphosphine, morphine, LSD and methyl stearate have been developed over a period of time and under a variety of conditions. This information is presented on both a relative and an absolute basis. With the exception of morphine, relative sensitivies were reproducible to within a factor of three over a six month period. This reproducibility facilitates quantitation and a single standard can be used for calibration of organic compounds from various classes. Detection limits of 50 femtograms for LSD are realized for samples introduced via the direct inlet probe.