General Description of the Resource

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is a mass spectrometric method for quantifying extremely low concentrations of long-lived radioisotopes, such as the commonly used biochemical tracer ¹⁴C. AMS can measure attomoles of radiocarbon with a precision of better than 10%. This corresponds to the need for less than 0.1DPM-equivalent of labeled agent per gram of biological sample. AMS has use when sample is limiting, specific activity is very low, when the level of isotope that can be used is very limited (humans studies) and when trying to study events that occur with very low frequency or at very low concentration.

Photo: LLNL 10MV Accelerator Mass Spectrometer. Please click on the above image to view a larger version.

The National Resource for Biomedical Accelerator Mass Spectrometry has been established to make AMS available to biomedical researchers who have a need for accurately measuring very low levels of ¹⁴C in their research. The Resource is also working to develop AMS into a routine tool for analysis of radioisotopes in biomedical tracer studies through development of new methods and instrumentation.

The Resource for Biomedical AMS is a U.S. National User Facility, established and funded by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is located within the Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (CAMS) and the Biology and Biotechnology Research Program (BBRP) at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Although investigators do not need to have NIH funding to utilize the Resource, priority will be given to research projects that are NIH funded.

The Resource has three major functions:

1. To provide biological researchers with access to ¹⁴C AMS in their research.

The Resource can be utilized by biomedical researchers for either single experimental projects or program projects that describe a series of intellectually linked experiments.

2. To develop new methods and instrumentation for the use of AMS in biomedical research.

The routine use of AMS in biomedical research requires development of robust instrumentation and methods capable of either processing or analyzing a large number of samples of varying composition and having large variations in isotope concentration.

3. To demonstrate new applications and to educate the biomedical research community on AMS.

Training in the use of AMS is critical to ensuring successful use of this new technology by biological researchers. It will also be critical once other biomedical AMS facilities begin to develop. We provide facilities and expertise to train and work with investigators, postdoctoral scientists and students using AMS in their research. We hold workshops for our users and other interested parties with the intent of sharing the methods developed through this Resource and facilitating the sharing of the experiences among AMS users.

The focus of the Resource is biomedical uses of ¹⁴C. However, AMS of other isotopes such as ³H, ⁴¹Ca, ¹⁰Be, and ²⁶Al, ⁹⁹Tc is also possible. Presently, these isotopes either do not possess a routine sample preparation or a routine AMS analysis capability. For information on capabilities related to these isotopes, contact the Resource staff.

Summary Of Resource Operating Procedures

The Resource is operated under the general guidelines of the Biomedical Resources Technology Program at NIH and recommendations from a National Advisory Committee. Standardized procedures have been developed for biomedical researchers to obtain access to the Resource. This process entails each potential user submitting a proposal or letter of intent regarding their scientific problem and peer review for acceptability. Projects approved for incorporation in the Resource will be serviced as time, schedules, and resources permit.

For information about this page contact:
Karolyn Burkhart-Schultz, burkhartschultz1@llnl.gov
UCRL-MI-140299