Abstract
Objectives: The risk of sample confusion continues to be a challenge for the pre-analytical part of the overall testing process. We here describe a novel system to track samples based on a chemical code labeling of test tubes with unique combinations of indicator compounds, which are naturally not present in specimens of human origin. As part of the sample vessel filling, the liquid specimens are permanently labeled with the compound code that can be tracked back to the primary tube. Methods: As a proof of concept we used 10 stable-isotopelabeled derivates of medical drugs as indicator substances to create a combinatory 10-digit binary number ID for individual test tubes, i.e. presence/absence of the respective compound. For this purpose, combinations of indicator compounds were provided in evaporated form in polypropylene tubes prior to filling with anonymized patient whole blood and corresponding plasmas subjected to liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry designed to detect the 10 indicator compounds. Results: In the blind analysis, we correctly identified 307 different whole blood samples by readout of a 10-digit binary number ID based on the detection of indicator compounds with respect to their presence and number. Conclusions: We have demonstrated the feasibility of an internal labeling procedure for diagnostic samples with mass spectrometry-based readout of dissolved indicator compound combinations as a binary number ID. With an increasing number of coding compounds (>> 10) a vast number of combinations for sample labeling can be realized beyond the proof of concept setting studied herein.
| Dokumententyp: | Zeitschriftenartikel |
|---|---|
| Fakultät: | Medizin |
| Themengebiete: | 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit |
| ISSN: | 1434-6621 |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Dokumenten ID: | 100995 |
| Datum der Veröffentlichung auf Open Access LMU: | 05. Jun. 2023, 15:36 |
| Letzte Änderungen: | 17. Okt. 2023, 15:06 |
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