Which type of detector is the most commonly used in clinical gas-liquid chromatography (GLC)?

In clinical gas-liquid chromatography (GLC), flame ionization detectors (FID) are the most commonly used type due to their sensitivity and effectiveness in detecting a wide range of organic compounds. The principle behind FID is that when organic compounds are introduced into the detector, they are burned in a hydrogen-air flame, producing ions. These ions generate a current that can be measured, allowing for the quantification of the analytes.

Flame ionization detectors are particularly valuable in clinical settings as they provide excellent sensitivity for compounds that are volatile and can be vaporized without decomposition. They are also relatively consistent and reliable for quantifying compounds, which is essential in clinical applications where accurate measurements are crucial for diagnostics and patient management.

Other detectors, while useful in specific scenarios, do not typically match the performance of FID for the variety of compounds encountered in clinical samples. For example, ultraviolet light absorbance is limited to compounds that absorb UV light, refractive index detectors are less sensitive and often require complicated calibration, and thermal conductance detectors generally do not provide the same level of sensitivity or specificity for organic compounds commonly analyzed in clinical laboratories. This makes FID the preferred choice in many laboratory settings.