Rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry (“REIMS”) and desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (“DESI-MS”) analysis of swabs and biopsy samples
A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.
1 . A method comprising:
directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of a swab having a sample of vaginal mucosa from a human or non-human animal provided thereon using Desorption Electrospray Ionisation (“DESI”) in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions;
analysing said analyte ions to obtain mass spectrometric data and/or ion mobility data; and
determining from said mass spectrometric data and/or ion mobility data either: (i) whether or not said human or non-human animal is pregnant; (ii) the stage or state of pregnancy of said human or non-human animal; (iii) whether or not said human or non-human animal is at an increased risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome; and/or (iv) whether or not said human or non-human animal is at an increased risk of having a preterm delivery or a premature delivery.
2 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising identifying the presence of one or more microbes in said sample of vaginal mucosa.
3 . A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said one or more microbes are selected from the group consisting of: (i) Candida albicans ; (ii) Pseudomonas montelli ; (iii) Staphylococcus epidermis ; (iv) Moraxella catarrhalis ; (v) Klebsiella pneumonia ; (vi) Lactobacillus sp; and (vii) bacteria.
4 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the swab comprises a medical swab.