Mass spectrometric analysis of steroids: all that glitters is not gold

Abstract

Steroid hormones are small molecules (MW around 300 Da) characterized by a large range of polarity and their analysis has always presented a serious challenge. Persistent problems with the specificity of conventional immunological methods are the cause of inconsistent results in the literature, a particularly problematic situation for healthcare decisions. At present, mass spectrometric methods have become the gold standard for accurate steroid profiling, and their advent will require the re-analysis of previously published data. However, it is a common misconception to consider the use of theses sophisticated technologies as a guarantee for accurate measures. Steroid analysis, especially in nervous tissues, indeed requires well-validated purification and separation steps before mass spectrometry, only then will mass spectrometric analysis be the absolute reference methodology.

Keywords:

• gas chromatography
• liquid chromatography
• mass spectrometry
• neurosteroids
• steroid hormones

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors were funded by Inserm, a public organization in France funding medical research. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.