From: Detection technologies and metabolic profiling of bile acids: a comprehensive review
Method | Advantage | Disadvantage |
---|---|---|
TLC | Easy operation, low cost; without sample derivatization [30, 104]. | Only applicable to qualitative analysis but not samples containing impurities, generally used to detect a mixture of BAs standard substances. |
ESI-MS | Without sample derivatization, qualitative analysis is allowed directly according to specific neutral or low-molecular-weight fragment ions [105]. | Only applicable to qualitative analysis but not distinguishing of substances with the same parent or fragment ions (e.g. conformational isomers) [29]. |
HPLC | High sensitivity and specificity, applicable to hardly volatile substances. | Complicated sample treatment that requires derivatization to enhance the UV absorption of BAs, with the efficiency affecting detection results; long detection time that is unsuitable for a large number of samples [33]. |
GC-MS | High degree of separation giving accurate molecular information, applicable to separation and quantification of mixtures of non-conjugated BAs [105]. | Requirement of derivatization that converts conjugated BAs into non-conjugated ones to decrease boiling points, complicated treatment process that is unsuitable for a large number of samples [37]. |
LC-MS | Short analysis time, low limit of quantification allowing separation of conformational isomers; simple sample treatment, without derivatization, automatic detection suitable for high-throughput analysis [52, 53]. | High cost, complicated instrumental operation, mostly applicable to basic research but not clinical use. |
Enzymatic method | Routine clinical detection method of TBA, simple operation, low cost, reflecting the overall characteristics of TBA. | Only applicable to C24-steroids containing C3-OH which, when substituted, causes detection failure; not applicable to low-content BAs [105]. |
ELISA | Suitable for a specific BA. | Low accuracy, proneness of antibodies to cross reactions with metabolites or matrices to produce false positive results [62]. |
NMR | Requirement of sample derivatization, complicated operation, failure to detection of a specific BA. |