MASS SPECTROMETRY Strengths: Limitations:

STRENGTHS 1 RAPID IDENTIFICATION of trace impurities, w/c should ideally be carried out using chromatographic separation in conjunction w/ mass spectrometry so that elemental composition can be determined 2 The METHOD OF CHOICE for MONITORING DRUGS and their metabolites in biological fluids because of its high sensitivity and selectivity 3 QC of therapeutic antibodies and peptides LIMITATIONS 1 MS is NOT CURRENTLY USED IN ROUTINE QC but is placed in Research and Development where it is used to solve specific problems arising from routine process or in-process development 2 Instrumentation is EXPENSIVE, requires highly trained personnel