High-Throughput Analysis of Underivatized Amino Acids and Acylcarnitines in Infant Serum: A Micromethod Based on Stable Isotope Dilution Targeted HILIC-ESI-MS/MS

Amino acids and acylcarnitines are important biomarkers of the body’s energy state and can be used as diagnostic markers of certain inborn errors of metabolism. Few multianalyte methods for high-throughput analysis in serum exist for these compounds, but micromethods suitable for use in young children and infants are lacking. Therefore, we developed a quantitative high-throughput multianalyte hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method preceded by a derivatization-free sample preparation using minimum amounts of serum (25 μL). Isotopically labeled standards were utilized for quantification. Forty amino acids and amino acid derivatives and 22 acylcarnitines were detected by applying a multiple reaction monitoring mode within a 20 min run. The method was comprehensively validated, comprising linearity, accuracy, (intraday/interday) precision, and quantitation limits, of which the latter ranged from 0.25 to 50 nM for acylcarnitines and from 0.005 to 1 μM for amino acids and their derivatives. Application of the method to 145 serum samples of three- to four-month-old healthy infants showed excellent reproducibility for multiday analyses and enabled simultaneous amino acid and acylcarnitine profiling in this age group.