«ALMASS Neo» Reagent kits

«ALMASS Neo» Reagent kits are designed for quantitative determination of amino acids, acylcarnitines and adenosine in newborn’s peripheral blood samples on standard paper test blanks by tandem mass spectrometry without derivatization for the purpose of newborns screening for early detection of metabolic disorders.

Neonatal screening is the newborn screening program for the identification of genetic disorders. The procedure begins in the maternity hospital, where five drops of blood are drawn from the newborn, applying them to a special card, which is then dried. This produces a sample – a Dried Blood Spot (DBS) – which will be sent for further analysis. Abnormal marker analytes will indicate metabolic disorders and allow the identification of potentially sick newborns. The panel of analytes is represented by amino acids, acylcarnitines, nucleosides, succinylacetone and lysophospholipids. Screening is not literally an «assay by which a diagnosis can be made quickly». Further examinations and additional tests should be performed by medical specialists.

The analysis is performed by tandem mass spectrometry, with the triple quadrupole being the best instrument here. When working with a kit without a derivatizing agent, a mixture of isotope-labeled internal standards is used. The operator adds them at the earliest stage, and after sample preparation puts them into the autosampler of the instrument. The analysis is done without a column, by Flow Injection. The mobile phase picks up the injected volume, and the moment the mixture enters the detector, the flow is abruptly dumped and pulled by a slow current. The absence of a column greatly reduces the analysis time. With proper setup and timely maintenance of the instrument, the technique is simple and quick.

So, the detection of analytes using ALMASS Neo reagent kit includes the following steps:

• extraction of analytes from dried blood spots (DBS) with a solution containing stable isotope labelled internal standards;
• analysis using non-derivatized MSMS;
• quantification of the result relative to the response of the corresponding internal standard of known concentration.

• simultaneous identification of 57 analytes: 14 amino acids, 36 acylcarnitines, 2 nucleosides, succinylacetone and 4 lysophospholipids;
• ability to screen more than 30 forms of metabolic disorders of newborns;
• suitable for mass screening due to shorter analysis time and the use of a Flow Injection method;
• efficient and cost-effective way to expand newborn screening;
• optional reagents including non-derivatized assay solutions and succinylacetone assay solution.