Mass Spectrometry

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

Gas chromatography (GC) uses a gaseous mobile phase such as helium or hydrogen to push molecules through a column that serves as the stationary phase. The most common type of Mass Spectrometer (MS) associated with a Gas chromatography (GC) is the quadrupole Mass Spectrometer. GC is predominantly limited to volatile, heat-stable compounds lacking polar functional groups; however, chemical modification with derivatizing agents allows for functional groups to be masked, producing less polar, GC-compatible compounds. Gas Chromotography is the method most often used for comprehensive drug screening in the clinical laboratory using a combination of GC and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).