Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry description

An extensive list that defines acronyms and abbreviations in the field of mass spectrometry was published in 2002 [6], A single analytical technique or a type of instrument is abbreviated without hyphens or slashes. However, it is customary to use hyphens for a description of an instrument whereas an abbreviation that describes the method uses slashes. For example, LC-MS is an instrument where a liquid chromatograph is coupled with a mass spectrometer, while LC/MS is the method of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Thus, one uses an LC-MS instrument to obtain a LC/MS spectrum. 

This review provides an up-to-date overview of the application of analytical procedures based on MS for the characterization of organic natural materials in archaeological and historical objects. Applications that feature the use of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), Py-GC/MS, high performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS), and direct MS analysis such as matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and direct exposure mass spectrometry (DE-MS) are sununarized to highlight the different information provided by each of the various analytical approaches. Case studies and examples are also presented and include a description of the molecular markers and of the molecular profiles that are used to identify the original materials. 

King, R.C. et al. 2002. Description and validation of a staggered parallel high performance liquid chromatography system for good laboratory practice level quantitative analysis by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 16 43. 

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