How do we know what we are getting?

[Pantalones]

I'm very curious regarding the process done in laboratories to identify and count various blood markers (hormones, vitamins, anti-bodies, etc.) I understand most of this equipment uses mass spectometry, of which I understand partially. I understand that the atoms are ionized by knocking off one or more electrons to give a positive ion, and that those ions are then accelerated to add kinetic energy. The basic premise of this process seems to be the deflection, that in which these ions are deflected according to their individual masses, and then charted based on this deflection..and it is this that then gives you what we know the substance to be. What I am confused on is how the detector can possible pick up on the location of each ion in a compound such as hormones or proteins, which often tend to be folded and such. That would mean two of the ions may overlap, and that would give a confusing reading. To me this mass spectometry just doesn't seem very accurate. I know I am w!
rong, but I would like someone to explain this to me. Also, if you could, I'm interested in learning on how such physiologic markers are discovered anyway, or in other words, how do we actually first know what these hormones, proteins, and globulins look like anyway? I feel like they could easily just bullshit people lol

 

[Frank White]

Of course they can, especially me, since I don't know shit about what your talking about!! Lol...good luck! PS- were you high when you wrote this? Just asking...

 

[3J]

i second the high thing

 

[Austinite]

I'm very curious regarding the process done in laboratories to identify and count various blood markers (hormones, vitamins, anti-bodies, etc.) I understand most of this equipment uses mass spectometry, of which I understand partially. I understand that the atoms are ionized by knocking off one or more electrons to give a positive ion, and that those ions are then accelerated to add kinetic energy. The basic premise of this process seems to be the deflection, that in which these ions are deflected according to their individual masses, and then charted based on this deflection..and it is this that then gives you what we know the substance to be. What I am confused on is how the detector can possible pick up on the location of each ion in a compound such as hormones or proteins, which often tend to be folded and such. That would mean two of the ions may overlap, and that would give a confusing reading. To me this mass spectometry just doesn't seem very accurate. I know I am w!
rong, but I would like someone to explain this to me. Also, if you could, I'm interested in learning on how such physiologic markers are discovered anyway, or in other words, how do we actually first know what these hormones, proteins, and globulins look like anyway? I feel like they could easily just bullshit people lol

Pantalones. You're probably better off researching this stuff. I mean, I enjoy writing and explaining things in detail, but this would actually be a 400 page book by the time someone was done explaining in detail.

Here's a good website to start: arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu

 

[KingPen]

PS- were you high when you wrote this? Just asking...

Haha, just what I was thinking.

 

[RamJam]

Walter White can explain it.

 

[Frank White]

Ask Dennis!

 

[notdorianyates]

Ehm....hmmmm.....oooooo.....not a scooby other than the specto-thingy spins things around. That bit is really important.

 

[halfwit]

Pantalones. You're probably better off researching this stuff. I mean, I enjoy writing and explaining things in detail, but this would actually be a 400 page book by the time someone was done explaining in detail.

Here's a good website to start: arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu

Ya know, I was tempted to try to explain it, but I think you're right. There are not only several different types of mass spectrometers, but also methods used within each different type to discern which molecule is what. I can say however, that most everything in the OP would have a very distinct wavelength, so accuracy shouldn't be too much of an issue.

But then again, I'm just a dumb engineering student - not chem major.