- This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 10 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
We’ve struggled with definitions related to NTA since the beginning of BP4NTA. Jon Sobus recently sent these around to a few folks. Curious if anyone has thoughts, strong reactions, edits, or agreement?
“NTA” is a generic umbrella term that captures all analyses that don’t involve target analytes and standards (i.e., everything listed below).
“De novo NTA” (I’m not a fan of “True NTA” but that’s what I’m referring to here) involves formula and structural identification based on investigation of spectra and first principles analysis.
“Non-target screening” (the preferred term of NORMAN) involves peak picking, formula estimation, and structure searching using local libraries or large databases (this is closest to what I do).
“Suspect screening” is a specific procedure in which acquired MS data are scanned (without peak picking, I think) for the presence of ions present in a user-defined list of true sample suspects (i.e., things which are actually believed to be present in the sample based on prior knowledge or logical expectation – this activity does NOT involve using large generic chemical libraries).I agree with @gpblack that NTS in my mind has always been the European word for NTA. But the way it’s defined here is closer to what I would call Suspect Screening and the definition of Suspect Screening here I would call something like semi-targeted analysis. But all of these activities can go under the umbrella term NTA
I agree with Seth and Gabby! I like having 4 different terms for these definitions (1. umbrella term, 2. spectral/first principles analysis, 3. peak picking first then large database search, 4. peak picking based on a suspect list), but I have not heard NTS vs. NTA used in this way before. Suspect screening I have heard used for definitions 3 and 4.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.