Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry of urine headspace

We describe the use of our selected ion flow tube mass spectrometric technique (SIFT-MS) for the analysis of the headspace above urine. Ammonia, nitric oxide, acetone, ethanol and methanol are identified as the dominant species. As expected, the ammonia is increased in the headspace by making the urine alkaline and the nitric oxide is increased by making the urine acidic. Nitric oxide is abnormally high in the headspace of acidified bacterially infected urine and nitrous acid is also detected. The potential clinical implications of analyses of urine by SIFT-MS are alluded to.