Polymerase chain reaction and immunoassay--matrix assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry using tag-mass technology: new tools to break down quantification limits and multiplexes.

We present a new development of the Tag-Mass concept based on a photocleavable linker with tagged molecules for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quantification coupled to mass spectrometry. PCR-MS and immunosorbent assay-MS with tagged oligonucleotides, bases, and antibodies will allow the acquisition of multiplexed information from genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic experiments. This is a novel application of Tag-Mass from tissue imaging to fluid quantification and will open doors to several clinical applications ranging from biomarker-driven gene modulation to use at the patient's bedside following treatment.