[Quantitative analysis of clinical samples using tandem mass spectrometers].

The history of clinical examination in Japan can be divided into 4 periods. The first period was the pioneering years of the 1950s or earlier when medical doctors or technicians performed manual examinations using in-house reagents. The second period involved the propagation of clinical examination in the 1960s 90s, when the development of central laboratory and commercial analytical systems was achieved. The third period (2000s) involved the development of new laboratory services such as blood drawing, infection control, and nutrition support. The fourth period is now, when advanced technologies such as mass spectrometry, high-throughput DNA sequencing, and micro/nanotechnologies including MEMS are incorporated in clinical examination. The present period might possibly be called the days of innovation of clinical examination. This symposium will focus on the problems and solutions regarding applying quantitative LC/ESI-MS/MS to clinical examination.