NeoCHROM-STEROIDS chromatograph
Steroidomics by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
NeoCHROM-STEROIDS — a gas chromatographic system with confirmed status as an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) medical device. The solution is designed for steroid profiling of biological samples and can be equipped with a mass spectrometric or flame ionization detector. The panel composition, sample type and sample preparation procedure are selected for the analytical application and confirmed during validation.
A steroid profile provides a laboratory with more than a result for a single hormone. Simultaneous analysis of hormones, their precursors and metabolites helps trace relationships between steroidogenesis pathways and provides data for comprehensive clinical interpretation.
Qualitative and quantitative analysis by GC-MS
Modern approaches to comprehensive steroid profiling use gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. GC-MS separates structurally similar compounds, helps identify them by retention time and mass spectrum, and determines concentrations using calibration. This is particularly important for steroid isomers, which are difficult to distinguish from the chromatographic peak alone.
In addition to individual analyte concentrations, a method may include the calculation of metabolite ratios. These help assess changes in individual steroidogenesis pathways. For targeted methods, the system can also be equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID).
Urinary steroid profile
An expanded panel of steroid metabolites is a promising approach for urine analysis. Published GC-MS methods demonstrate the simultaneous determination of 32 compounds from five groups:
- Progestogens and their metabolites: 17-hydroxypregnanolone, pregnanediol, pregnenetriol, pregnanetriolone, pregnanetriol.
- Mineralocorticoid pathway: tetrahydro-11-deoxycorticosterone, 5α-tetrahydrocorticosterone, tetrahydrocorticosterone, tetrahydro-11-dehydrocorticosterone.
- Glucocorticoids and their metabolites: 11-ketoetiocholanolone, 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone, tetrahydro-11-deoxycortisol, tetrahydrocortisone, tetrahydrocortisol, 5α-tetrahydrocortisol, β-cortol, α-cortolone, β-cortolone, α-cortol, cortisol, 20α-dihydrocortisol.
- Androgens and their metabolites: 5α-androstanediol, androsterone, Δ5-androstenediol, etiocholanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 11β-hydroxyandrosterone, 16α-hydroxy-DHEA, androstenetriol.
- Estrogens: estrone, estriol, 17β-estradiol.
This list serves as a basis for panel development. The final set of analytes and their limits of quantification are confirmed for the NeoCHROM-STEROIDS method during validation.
Serum steroid profile
Serum analysis addresses a different analytical task: determining circulating hormones, their precursors and transformation products. The capabilities of single-quadrupole GC-MS have been demonstrated using a method with 54 target compounds: 26 androgens, 9 estrogens, 5 progestogens, 6 corticoids and 8 sterols.
Analytes that may form the basis of a serum panel include:
- Androgens and their metabolites: testosterone, epitestosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androsterone, etiocholanolone, 6β-hydroxyandrostenedione, 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione, 16α-hydroxyandrostenedione and 16α-hydroxy-DHEA.
- Estrogens and their metabolites: estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, and the 2- and 4-hydroxy derivatives of estrone and estradiol.
- Progestogens and precursors: pregnenolone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and 21-hydroxypregnenolone.
- Corticoids and their metabolites: cortisol, cortisone, 11-deoxycortisol, 6β-hydroxycortisol and 6β-hydroxycortisone.
- Sterols: cholesterol, 7α-hydroxycholesterol, 7β-hydroxycholesterol, 4β-hydroxycholesterol, 20α-hydroxycholesterol, 24S-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol.
These are examples of compounds from a broad panel, not a claim that the determination of all 54 components has already been validated on NeoCHROM-STEROIDS. Panel composition and analytical performance are assessed separately for serum and plasma.
Sample preparation for each sample type
A urine method may include extraction, hydrolysis of conjugated steroids, further cleanup and derivatization before GC-MS analysis. Serum and plasma require a separate approach: isolation of target compounds, removal of matrix components and derivatization. Hydrolysis is used when the analytical task includes the determination of conjugated forms.
The sample preparation sequence is selected together with the analyte list. Validation assesses selectivity, reproducibility and limits of quantification for the selected sample type.
Analysis time and throughput
The chromatographic cycle takes 45–90 minutes depending on the method and panel composition. This corresponds to approximately 5–10 injections per 8 hours or 16–32 injections per day on a single analytical channel, excluding pauses. The actual number of results is planned with allowance for sample preparation, calibration, blanks and quality control samples.
Tell us which analytes and biological samples your laboratory needs to analyse. We will propose a panel, system configuration and method for evaluation against your analytical requirements.
Select a chromatograph
Describe the sample type, components, expected concentrations and standard method. NeoChrom engineers will propose an instrument configuration for your specific analytical application.