How the new MassTrak Calibrator and Quality Control Sets can benefit LC-MS/MS Analytical Methods

The use of LC-MS/MS in the clinical diagnostic laboratories for the analysis of immunosuppressive drugs and steroid hormones is rapidly becoming a common technique for its ability to provide accurate results through its superior specificity, greater sensitivity, and ability to quantitate multiple analytes in a single run. However, many LC-MS methods lack harmonization or standardization.

The Waters™ MassTrak™ Calibrator and Quality Control Sets (IVD) for both endocrine steroids and immunosuppressant drugs contain metrologically traceable calibrators, aiding laboratories in their compliance to ISO 15189, and provide confidence in the accuracy of results when using validated LC-MS methods.  

In this webinar, the characteristics of the MassTrak Calibrator and Quality Control Sets will be discussed and the performance of an in-house LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of steroid hormones and immunosuppressant drugs will be demonstrated.

Learning Objectives:

• Ease of use and metrological traceability provided by Waters MassTrak Calibrator and QC Sets
• How the sets can help laboratories to achieve accurate, reproducible measurement of immunosuppressant drugs and steroid hormones
• Describe improvements in laboratory efficiency through the provision of lyophilized materials.

Presenter: Dominic Foley (Principal Scientist, Waters Corporation)

Dominic is a Principal Scientist working at Waters Mass Spectrometry Headquarters in Wilmslow, UK. Having joined the company in September 2013, he has specialized in the development of LC-MS/MS clinical research applications, with expertise in steroid hormone analysis and protein/peptide quantification. In his role, he also collaborates with clinical customers in the development and implementation of LC-MS/MS methods in their laboratories.

Dominic has worked in separation sciences for 14 years, following his ambition of improving the quality of healthcare. He started his career with ICON Development Solutions, a CRO in the north of the UK, where he worked as a LC-MS/MS method development and validation scientist supporting DMPK studies in drug discovery. In 2012, he joined Thermo Fisher Scientific to work in their Chromatography R&D team as a Technical Support Specialist, working on the development of new chromatography and sample preparation products.

Dominic received his BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry from the University of Manchester in 2006. He has presented his work at conferences around the world and has several publications in both the Microchemical Journal and the Journal of Chromatography A.

Presenter: Stephen Balloch (Senior Scientist, Clinical Scientific Operations, Waters Corporation)

Stephen Balloch graduated from the University of York (UK) with a Master’s degree in chemistry which included a strong focus on analytical chemistry and a year in industry, in which he gained experience in a range of analytical techniques.

His first permanent post was at Charles River Laboratories, a GLP compliant contract research laboratory in Edinburgh, in which he progressed to the role of Study Director and gained further exposure to LC-MS and LC-MS/MS instrumentation, including Waters instruments.

Since 2010, he has been part of the clinical team in the Scientific Operations group in Waters (Wilmslow, UK). His principal focus has been on the development and validation of bioanalytical methods according to CLSI guidelines, with a focus on therapeutic drug monitoring. Additionally, he has supported newborn screening, steroid and vitamin analysis.

Stephen Balloch graduated from the University of York (UK) with a Masters degree in Chemistry which included a strong focus on analytical chemistry and a year in industry, in which he gained experience in a range of analytical techniques.

His first permanent post was at Charles River Laboratories, a GLP compliant contract research laboratory in Edinburgh, in which he progressed to the role of Study Director and gained further exposure to LC-MS and LC-MS/MS instrumentation, including Waters instruments.

Since 2010, he has been part of the clinical team in the Scientific Operations group in Waters (Wilmslow, UK). His principal focus has been on the development and validation of bioanalytical methods according to CLSI guidelines, with a focus on therapeutic drug monitoring. Additionally, he has supported newborn screening, steroid and vitamin analysis.