Isotope-dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) has long been considered the gold standard for analytical quantitation. Key to this is the availability of high purity standards labeled with stable isotopes. While many isotopically labeled standards are commercially available, there is still demand for yet more single and multiple analyte standards. Stable isotopically labeled standards are used extensively in applications ranging from medical screening, disease diagnosis and monitoring, new API ADME, environmental fate of agricultural chemicals and persistent pollutants. With over eighteen years of experience in the field, Wakefield Chemistry Consulting LLC can provide consulting services in the design, synthesis and application of standards suitable for IDMS.

Screening for genetic conditions, cancer and other diseases by MS/MS requires access to suitable standards. Newborn screening (NBS) is without doubt the most well-established application of this technology with a truly world-wide reach. In this application, kits of stable-isotope labeled standards provide either primary or surrogate reference materials. The success of NBS has spurred other applications, all requiring appropriate standards. The principal of Wakefield Chemistry Consulting LLC was for many years a subject-matter expert in the field and is a contributing author to the CLSI NBS04 Newborn Screening by Tandem Mass Spectrometry, 2nd edition, a major reference document in the field. With this experience, Wakefield Chemistry Consulting can provide consulting services in the design of both individual standards and combination kits.

Design of appropriate standards for IDMS in any field, requires an in-depth knowledge of both the application and stable isotope chemistry. The design of the standard must take into account both how the molecule will behave in the mass spectrometer and the restrictions imposed on the design thereby and the availability of appropriate reagents and synthetic routes to access the selected target.