Vitamin D metabolite profiling using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has emerged as the latest technology to be used to assay the metabolites of vitamin D. The method uses molecular mass as a detection technique after straightforward extraction and chromatography steps. LC-MS/MS assay provides a level of accuracy and reproducibility not seen before with other methods and is beginning to rival antibody-based methods in terms of sensitivity and convenience. Methods for detection of underivatized and DMEQ-TAD derivatized vitamin D metabolites are evaluated. Sensitivity is improved by 10-100 fold with derivatization and allows for the simultaneous assay of multiple vitamin D metabolites, a process termed vitamin D metabolite profiling. Clinical and research applications of vitamin D metabolite profiling are discussed.