Patent ID: 7109038

Claim:
A method for detecting porphyrin in a biological sample obtained from an animal using laser desorption mass spectrometry, comprising the steps of: a. obtaining a biological sample from the animal, b. depositing the biological sample on a support without purifying the sample, c. treating the biological sample with an acid for converting bound porphyrin to unbound porphyrin either before or after step b, d. inserting the support into a laser desorption mass spectrometer, e. obtaining a mass spectrum of the biological sample, f. determining whether the mass spectrum shows a mass/charge signature of the unbound porphyrin, and g. if it is determined that the mass spectrum shows the mass/charge signature of the unbound porphyrin, then concluding that the biological sample contains porphyrin, wherein the porphyrin is bilirubin.