Detailed Instructions: Given a passage with a context and an answer, construct a question on the basis of the information present in the passage. Construct the question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) it is answerable from the passage, (iii) its answer is unique (iv) it answer uses text phrases from the passage. Avoid creating questions that (i) can't be answered correctly without actually understanding the passage and (ii) uses the same words or phrases given in the passage.
Problem:Context: An electro-spray ionisation ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) application for the quantitative analysis of amino acids was developed. The suitability for the detection and follow-up of patients suffering from inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) was assessed by extensive cross-validation with ion-exchange liquid chromatography (IEX-LC) with post-column ninhydrin derivatisation, participation in external quality control (ERNDIM) and analysis of samples of patients with confirmed IEM.', 'Prior to analysis plasma and urine samples were merely diluted 150-fold in mobile phase. Amino acids were detected in the multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) in the ESI-positive mode. The analytical results were compared with IEX-LC. External quality control scheme performance is presented.', 'Comprehensive analysis of amino acids in plasma and urine was achieved with a run-to-run time of 30min. Validation results were satisfactory and there was a very good correlation between UPLC-MS/MS and IEX-LC. Analytical results obtained in the external quality control scheme were essentially the same as those of the other participants. Patients suffering from IEM were readily identified.
Answer: UPLC-MS/MS analysis of amino acids in body fluids is rapid, reliable and suitable for the diagnosis and follow-up patients with IEM.
Solution:
Is quantitative UPLC-MS/MS analysis of underivatised amino acids in body fluids a reliable tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with inborn errors of metabolism?