Quantitation of Plasma Renin Activity in Plasma Using Liquid Chromatography & ndash;Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

We describe a semi-automated and simple method for the accurate and precise measurement of PRA from 500 & mu;L of plasma (250 & mu;L if blank subtraction is omitted, as discussed) using a liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for angiotensin I (AngI) in 96-well format. After a 3 h AngI generation step at 37 & deg;C in buffering conditions at pH 6, the reaction is quenched with 10 % formic acid containing AngI internal standard. Sample preparation then proceeds with offline solid phase extraction, two wash steps, and methanol elution followed by injection into the LC-MS/MS system. Quantitation is performed against a 7-point calibration linear curve prepared in buffer. The assay calibration range is 0.34 & ndash;30.0 ng/mL which corresponds to PRA values of 0.11 & ndash;10.0 ng/mL/h: much wider than was possible using traditional competitive antibody-based methods. Total precision in clinical production has been observed to be 5.8 to 5.0 % for Bio-Rad Hypertension Control materials having nominal PRA values ranging from 1.73 to 12.43 ng/mL/h. At AngI concentrations of 0.06 ng/L (corresponding to a PRA of 0.02 ng/mL/h), signal to noise ratios are 50:1 indicating that the limit of quantitation is well below the level required for clinical use.
Source: Springer protocols feed by Imaging/Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: news