Detection of Disease by Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds: II. Direct Sample Injection Mass Spectrometry

This review presents results on the diagnosis of diseases in humans and laboratory animals obtained by application of the method of mass spectrometry with direct sample injection. Various methods of obtaining mass spectra of volatile organic compounds (VOC) are considered; these methods make VOC analysis without the use of sample concentration and chromatographic separation possible. This approach, reminiscent of the work of detector dogs, ensures minimal sample analysis time and high sensitivity, which is extremely important for large-scale analysis. The review also includes the authors’ own results on the development of a new method of VOC ionization for use in the analysis of biological samples.