Via the GC/MS method, a gaseous mobile phase transports the analyte molecules through the gas chromatographer and elutes into the mass spectrometer, most commonly via electron impact ionization.
In the pharmaceutical industry, GC-MS is used in R&D, production, and quality control/ quality assurance. Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometers are used to identify impurities in active pharmaceutical ingredients. In medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical biotechnology, GC-MS is used in synthesis and characterization of compounds. GC-MS is considered a high-level benchmark for drug substance identification because it can perform a 100% specific test, to identify a particular substance.