Abstract
Three techniques have been used to measure human plasma melatonin: bioassay, radioimmunoassay, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). GC-MS is theoretically capable of the greatest specificity, but in general suffers from insufficient sensitivity. Negative chemical ionization, a new technique, provides a 150-fold increase in GC-MS sensitivity for electron-capturing compounds. Negative chemical ionization GC-MS permits routine measurement in human plasma of melatonin at a concentration as low as 1 picogram per milliliter.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 741-743 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 201 |
Issue number | 4357 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1978 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General