The Column-07-22-2016

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The Column

In clinical and forensic/toxicology laboratories, urine is a preferred matrix from which to quantify drug concentrations because it yields accurate results and allows for noninvasive collection methods. Prior to excretion, drug metabolites in the body undergo a glucuronidation reaction, resulting in a glucuronide bond that must be cleaved before mass spectrometry (MS) analysis by a β-glucuronidase enzyme hydrolysis. Many laboratories employ a “dilute-and-shoot” method after hydrolysis to decrease residual protein or enzyme concentration, but this method negatively affects column lifetime and reduces the sensitivity of analyte detection. By using a β-glucuronidase removal approach, analysts are able to see an increase in sensitivity and a reduction in MS instrument maintenance.