| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method for detecting at least one target molecule in a sample through mass spectrometry, wherein a) the molecules of the sample are ionized; b) the following steps (i) and (ii) are carried out n times, n being equal to 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4: (i) at least one ion obtained in the previous step is selected on the basis of the target molecule in a mass analyzer, and (ii) the thus-selected ion is fragmented in a fragmentation cell; c) at least two different ions obtained in step a) when n is zero, or in step b) when n is not zero, are trapped in a mass analyzer, the at least two thus-trapped ions having a mass/charge ratio m/z that is characteristic of the target molecule; d) the thus-trapped characteristic ions are ejected from the mass analyzer, and e) the ejected characteristic ions are detected by means of a detection device. The method of the invention is characterized in that the characteristic ions are ejected at the same time as step d) and detected at the same time as step e). |