Advantages and Disadvantages of SOMA

SOMA is not appropriate for high-throughput screens to identify variants that may occur in numerous positions within a gene as other technologies exist which are better able to address such questions, for example chip [38] or gel-based technologies. Rather, SOMA is more suited to applications in which accuracy and reproducibility are critical factors. 

A consideration to bear in mind when using mass spectrometry for DNA analysis, either by SOMA or other methods, is that the presence of Na and K can result in the formation of adduct ions. The presence of adduct ions reduces both sensitivity and resolution and purification steps are therefore required to minimise their occurrence during sample preparation. Another concern of mass spectrometry-based methods is cost. However, once the mass spectrometer has been purchased ( US 100,000 to 300,000), the cost per sample is similar to that for other technologies. 

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