Analysis of vitamin D metabolic markers by mass spectrometry: Recent progress regarding the gold standard method and integration into clinical practice

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry is firmly established today as the gold standard technique for analysis of vitamin D, both for vitamin D status assessments as well as for measuring complex and intricate vitamin D metabolic fingerprints. While the actual mass spectrometry technology has seen only incremental performance increases in recent years, there have been major, very impactful changes in the front- and back-end of MS-based vitamin D assays; for example, the extension to new types of biological sample matrices analyzed for an increasing number of different vitamin D metabolites, novel sample preparation techniques, new powerful chemical derivatization reagents, as well the continued integration of high resolution mass spectrometers into clinical laboratories, replacing established triple-quadrupole instruments. At the same time, the sustainability of mass spectrometry operation in the vitamin D field is now firmly established through proven analytical harmonization and standardization programs. The present review summarizes the most important of these recent developments.

Automated summary

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry has become the gold standard technique for analyzing vitamin D, with recent developments including expansion of sample matrices, novel sample preparation techniques, and the integration of high resolution mass spectrometers in clinical laboratories replacing traditional instruments. These changes have established the sustainability of mass spectrometry in the field of vitamin D analysis.