A simultaneous assay system for N-acetylgalactosamine and N-acetylgalactosaminitol using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A procedure is described, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify and quantitate various sugar alditol acetates, which will simultaneously quantitate N-acetylgalactosamine and N-acetylgalactosaminitol. N-acetylgalactosamine is distinguished from N-acetylgalactosaminitol by reduction with sodium borodeuteride and determining relative intensities of the ion pairs $\text{m}\text{e}$ 84, 85; 102, 103; and 144, 145. The method is adequate for determining amounts of these sugars in the range of 40–1000 nmol.