Analysis of T-2 toxin in a biological matrix using multiple reaction monitoring

Abstract

The traditional analysis of a biological mixture by mass spectrometry involves the union of a gas liquid Chromatograph with a mass spectrometer and analysis of the resolved effluent by either full scan or the recording of selected ions. The latter methodology is sensitive and selective but suffers from the interference presented by the biological matrix. With the advent of tandem mass spectrometry, greater flexibility in the elimination of the effects of a biological matrix is possible. The example used here is that of the trifluoroacetate derivative of T-2 toxin. Thus, a single or multiple selection of parent ions (m/z⁺ 478) is made and allowed to pass through the first analyzer (sectoring portion) of the tandem mass spectrometer into the second mass spectrometer, in this case a quadrupole. Here the parent fragment undergoes collision-activated decomposition, under the influence of argon gas and voltage (collision energy) into daughter ions which are detected by the third mass spectrometer (quadrupole). The daughters generated from the parent m/z⁶⁺ 478 of T-2-TFA are 180, 138 and 121. They are unique and give definitive proof for the presence of T-2 toxin. There is the possibility that other 478 fragments may be present in the mixture that have the same retention time as T-2-TFA toxin. In this case, the daughters generated will be different from that of T-2. The method is called multiple reaction monitoring. It is highly accurate and can detect T-2-TFA in blood or urine at a concentration of 1 ppb.