METHOD FOR CHIRAL SEPARATION OF LACTIC ACID ENANTIOMERS

1 . A method for separation of D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid enantiomers, comprising:

a. providing a column with which chirobiotic teicoplanin aglycone is associated;

b. passing a test sample suspected of containing D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid enantiomers over said column;

c. performing high performance liquid chromatography separation analysis on said test sample; and,

d. performing tandem mass spectrometry analysis on said test sample.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the acetic acid/triethylamine content is 0.115% HOAc and 0.3% TEA.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising quantifying the amounts of said D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid present in said test sample.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding water to a polar organic mobile phase.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a mobile phase comprises short chain alcohols.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said short chain alcohols are selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol and isopropanol.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said mobile phase further comprises at least one volatile salt.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said volatile salt comprises an ammonium salt.

9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said mobile phase further comprises an acid.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said acid comprises acetic acid.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising quantifying the amount of D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid present in said test sample.

12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising correlating the level of D-lactic acid or L-lactic acid with the presence of bacteria in a patient.

13 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said mobile phase comprises

a. 17% of a mobile phase A, where said mobile phase A comprises deionized H 2 O,

b. 23% of a mobile phase B, where said mobile phase B comprises EtOH+0.5% (v/v) HOAc, and

c. 60% of a mobile phase C, where said mobile phase C comprises EtOH+0.5% (v/v) TEA.

14 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said mobile phase C comprises 17% H 2 O, 0.115% HOAc in EtOH and 0.3% TEA in EtOH.

15 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said macrocyclic glycopeptide chiral material is selected from the group consisting of chirobiotic teicoplanin aglycone and vancomycin.

16 . A method for separation of D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid enantiomers, comprising:

a. providing a column with which a macrocyclic glycopeptide chiral material is associated;

b. passing a test sample suspected of containing D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid enantiomers over said column; and,

c. performing high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) analysis on said test sample.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said chiral material is chirobiotic teicoplanin aglycone.

18 . A method for simultaneous and sensitive determination of D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid enantiomers in human urine, comprising:

a. providing a column with which chirobiotic teicoplanin aglycone is associated;

b. passing a test sample suspected of containing D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid enantiomers over said column;

c. performing high performance liquid chromatography separation analysis on said test sample; and,

d. performing tandem mass spectrometry analysis on said test material.

19 . A method for detecting bacterial presence or growth in a patient by detecting D-lactic acid or D-lactate in a test sample, comprising:

a. providing a column with which chirobiotic teicoplanin aglycone is associated;

b. passing a test sample suspected of containing D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid enantiomers over said column;

c. performing high performance liquid chromatography separation analysis on said test sample; and,

d. performing tandem mass spectrometry analysis on said test material.

20 . A method for detecting elevated levels of L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid in a patient specimen and correlating said elevated levels to an illness, comprising:

a. providing a column with which chirobiotic teicoplanin aglycone is associated;

b. passing a test sample suspected of containing D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid enantiomers over said column;

c. performing high performance liquid chromatography separation analysis on said test sample; and,

d. performing tandem mass spectrometry analysis on said test material.

21 . A system for detecting elevated levels of L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid in a patient specimen, comprising:

a. at least one chromatographic column which at least one macrocyclic glycopeptide chiral material is associated; and,

b. at least one mobile phase material.

22 . The system of claim 21 , further comprising a mobile phase comprising short chain alcohols.

23 . The system of claim 21 , wherein said at least one mobile phase material comprises

a. at least one short chain alcohol,

b. at least one volatile salt, and

c. an acid.

24 . The system of claim 21 , wherein said at least one mobile phase material comprises

a. 17% of a mobile phase A, where said mobile phase A comprises deionized H 2 O,

b. 23% of a mobile phase B, where said mobile phase B comprises EtOH+0.5% (v/v) HOAc, and

c. 60% of a mobile phase C, where said mobile phase C comprises EtOH+0.5% (v/v) TEA.

25 . The system of claim 21 , wherein said macrocyclic glycopeptide chiral material is selected from the group consisting of chirobiotic teicoplanin aglycone and vancomycin.