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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Multi-step Preparation Technique to Recover Multiple Metabolite Compound Classes for In-depth and Informative Metabolomic Analysis
Published on: July 11, 2014
Analysis of melatonin in human plasma by gas chromatography negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry
Abstract:
Three techniques have been used to measure human plasma melatonin: bioassay, radioimmunoassay, and gas chromatography--mass spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS is theoretically capable of the greatest specificity, but in general suffers from insufficient sensitivity. Negative chemical ionization, a new technique, provides a 150-fold increase in GC-MS sensitivity for electron-capturing compounds. Negative chemical ionization GC-MS permits routine measurement in human plasma of melatonin at a concentration as low as 1 picogram per milliliter.
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