Mass spectrometry

Automation makes possible the highest throughput in the in vitro diagnostics market, increasing the speed of sample processing and delivery of results. By optimising the workflow and transitioning away from batch processing, laboratories can eliminate the waiting time associated with collecting samples. Fast and easy handling frees up time for laboratory staff, addresses staffing shortages and reduces the risk of human error. Highly skilled staff can focus on more value-added tasks. Operators have minimal contact with biohazardous materials to ensure their health and safety.

An integrated solution is one that adapts to a lab’s specific needs and seamlessly connects into the broader lab infrastructure. Roche’s technology maximises performance and supports labs by combining technologies such as clinical chemistry, immunochemistry testing, ion-selected electrodes and mass spectrometry, to enhance the lab’s overall diagnostic capabilities.

Labs are often faced with numerous instrument configurations, as well as varying pre-analytic and analytical methods, data acquisition conditions, calibration and quality control concepts, and methods to interpret results, making it very difficult to compare results between labs and even between instruments.2-3 Roche’s technology improves standardisation, as every test is traceable to a reference method. This enables the consistency of results, any time and everywhere.

The fuller picture of a patient’s hormones provided by mass spectrometry is crucial to understanding and personalising treatment for specific cancers, such as breast and prostate.

Mass spectrometry can precisely distinguish between different types of vitamin D and supports the identification of functional vitamin D deficiency and personalised assessment of vitamin D status. Especially for particular patient populations, such as pregnant women, newborns, kidney patients or those in critical care, this is important information for personalising treatment.

PCOS is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and an estimated 70% of the millions of women worldwide with PCOS don’t even know what’s causing their often painful, disruptive and distressing symptoms.4 A quick and reliable diagnosis with mass spectrometry could empower them to take control of their health and well-being, even with a condition that currently lacks sufficient treatment options.5

Traditional immunoassays in paediatrics can make it more difficult to distinguish levels of certain hormones like estradiol and testosterone. Determining quickly what’s happening in a child's body can mean better outcomes, sooner.

For 5-10% of people with hypertension, the underlying cause is the under-recognised hormonal imbalance known as primary aldosteronism.6 While previously considered rare, emerging research has shown that PA affects 5% to 13% of people with hypertension and up to 30% of those with resistant hypertension.7 Aldosterone is found in such small concentrations that it’s very hard to measure. Early detection and diagnosis means no time is wasted trying out several different blood pressure-lowering drugs that don’t work and significantly lowering the risk of vascular events.

Organ transplants save lives. However, patients need to take immunosuppressive drugs after the operation so that the immune system doesn’t recognise the transplant as foreign tissue and try to reject it. Mass spectrometry is the most precise method of measuring immunosuppressants in patients’ blood in order to determine the exact dosage for the best response.

This highly prevalent disease can be successfully treated with the antimicrobial treatment linezolid, though it is very difficult to achieve the right dosage for patients, The clear and precise therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) results enabled by mass spectrometry reveal if an efficient dose was reached and whether or not adjustments need to be made. Not only does this decrease the risk of drug-related adverse events for the patient, but it also helps limit the emergence of gram-positive drug-resistant bacteria.

TDM can be performed using mass spectrometry to find the right dosage. Finding the right dosage for antibiotics, especially in critically ill patients, is challenging; overdosing could lead to toxicity, but underdosing can be equally problematic. Approximately 40–60% of critically ill patients do not attain target concentrations,9 which means lower rates of clinical cure and bacteriological eradication. TDM is increasingly used to avoid underdosing and is one pillar of antibiotic stewardship that can support our fight against antimicrobial resistance.