Rapid Assessment of Urine Samples by Atmospheric Pressure Laser Plasma Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

The method of atmospheric pressure laser plasma ionization (APLPI) was investigated to address the task of the rapid detection of physiologically active substances in urine. Urine samples were collected from patients undergoing treatment in hospitals in Moscow. The study demonstrated that the APLPI method, combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry, enables the detection of all analytes previously identified in urine extract samples using the standard LC–MS/MS method. Analysis duration for a single sample does not exceed 1 min. Calibration curves were constructed, and the analytical characteristics of the method were determined using the “dilution in matrix” approach. The LC–MS/MS and APLPI methods exhibit comparable signal-to-noise ratios. The advantages of the APLPI method include its rapidity, retrospective analysis capability, and the requirement for only small sample volumes. The study demonstrated the feasibility of using the APLPI method for screening physiologically active substances in urine without sample preparation.