The use of Mass Spectrometry as a tool for solving biochemical problems is growing.  Specifically, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization coupled with time-of-flight detection systems (MALDI-TOF) is emerging for high throughput and high accuracy applications such as genotyping and protein analysis.  At NIST the potential of mass spectrometry for nucleic acid based technologies is being evaluated.  Applications include quality control of multiplex PCR primer kits, detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms on the Y chromosome and in mitochondrial DNA, and the determination of previously unknown PCR primer sequences.
 

The primary spectrometer in our laboratory is a Bruker Biflex III MALDI-TOF equipped with a gridless ion reflector detector for improved mass resolution.  A Perseptive Biosystems Voyager DE MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer is also available for comparisons.  A MWG RoboAmp 4200 robotic system is used for assay development and MALDI sample preparation.  The robotic system provides a fast and accurate means to prepare a large number of samples to evaluate high throughput capabilities of the mass spectrometer.