[Mass spectrometry and combined techniques in medicine, clinical chemistry and clinical biochemistry. Report on the conference at the Medizinische Klinik of the University of Tübingen on November 14--15, 1977 (author's transl)].

Mass spectrometry, especially in combination with gas chromatography, is the most flexible and powerful analytical technique available today for organic substances, with the exception of macromolecules. It is distinguished by vary high sensitivity combined with high specificity, and enables the identification and quantification of substances in biological material even in very low concentration. The conference was divided into five sessions: Main areas of application, Hormones and active substances, Profile analyses, Methodical and theoretical aspects, Pharmacological and toxicological applications. It was the goal of the symposium to gather scientists and clinicians and to define the scope and place of mass spectrometry in clinical chemical and medical research, and in routine analysis, and to identify the kind of problems it can help to solve.