Identification of sterols and bile acids by computerized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

In mass spectrometry, sterols and bile acids from fragment ions characteristic of certain steroid structures. After separation of derivatized sterols or bile acids by the gas chromatograph and fragmentation in the mass spectrometer, data collected by the computer can be collated to provide a reconstructed gas chromatogram and a series of fragment ion current chromatograms in which the relative abundances of characteristic fragment ions are plotted vs time or scan number. Intensities of these fragment ions will be greatest and hence coincide with peak elution of unidentified sterols or bile acids. The use of known amounts of labeled appropriate sterols of bile acids permits quantitation of the identified sterol or bile acid.