Patent ID: 7244621

Claim:
A method comprising steps of: acquiring mass spectral data from a sample that has been derived from the blood of a patient, wherein said data includes values comprised of a methionine concentration (met) and optionally a molar ratio of methionine and phenylalanine (met/phe); comparing said values, respectively, with a met flag threshold and optionally a met/phe flag threshold; identifying whether or not there is an elevation of any of said values above any of said flag thresholds; interpreting said sample as being normal for hypermethionemia, provided there is no said elevation of any of said values; and flagging the sample for re-analysis provided any of the following occur: i. said met is greater than said met flag threshold; or ii. said met is greater than about 50 μM and said met/phe is greater than said met/phe flag threshold.