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This page contains information for making a tax-deductible donation to support MSACL.

MSACL's Mission: To accelerate the implementation of mass spectrometry into the clinical laboratory by educational awareness for the purpose of increasing the quality of patient care and reducing healthcare costs.

Does MSACL have 501c3 non-profit status?

MSACL received 501c3 status in 2009. View 501c3 Document.

How do I take a tax deduction after I make my donation?

Claim your tax deduction on Form 1040, Schedule A when filing your taxes.

Make a donation online:

or send checks to:

MSACL
205 12th St.
Del Mar, CA 92014

MSACL is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Tax ID: 26-4812173

Why should I support MSACL?

Increased use of mass spectrometry in the clinical lab will improve the standard of patient healthcare AND reduce healthcare costs.

Your contribution will:

1. Increase the educational reach of MSACL via development of online educational resources (conference and webinar recording, production and publishing).
2. Support our Travel Grant Program where young researchers and individuals training to lead clinical labs receive financial support for travel, housing and registration to attend the MSACL conference. MSACL currently supports between around 100-150 grants each year, but many more researchers are in need of support.
3. Support the infrastructure of the organization and reinforce its sustainability.

How will mass spectrometry achieve an improved standard of patient healthcare AND reduce healthcare costs?

It is expected to gradually displace immunoassays for many lab tests. Immunoassays are comparatively more-expensive, less-specific and less-sensitive than mass spectrometry.

What is mass spectrometry?

Mass spectrometry is the process of using a mass spectrometry to identify the composition of a sample. The sample can be almost anything; some examples are rock, oil, water, or most relevant for MSACL, biological fluids, such as blood.

What is a mass spectrometer?

A mass spectrometer is an analytical instrument that allows the determination of components of a sample by visualization of its mass spectrum.

What is a mass spectrum?

A mass spectrum is a distribution of masses comprised of intact and/or fragmented molecules. Molecules can fragment in patterns that facilitate identification based on their distribution and abundance =-- this is known as a mass spectrum. The mass spectrum for cocaine is shown below.

A mass spectrum is analagous to a light spectrum. The light around us is "white", but if sent through a prism (a simple wavelength spectrometer) it will separate (fragment) into the component colors that we know as a "rainbow", which is the light spectrum of "white" light.

How long have these instruments been around?

The first iteration of a mass spectrometer was created in 1899, but its first use on a biological sample wasn't until 1958.

So, why now? After all of this time? Why Mass Spectrometry?

Mass Spectrometers have historically been expensive, large, unreliable, and demanding, requiring a specialist technician with years of training. Mass spectrometers are being more affordable, compact and reliable.

An analogous timeline example is that of the computer. Near the time of production of ENIAC in 1946, then IBM Chairman Thomas Watson was quoted as saying, "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." There is now a computer in most every house and pocket.

Mass spectrometers have been superior to immuno-assays in analytical capability for nearly as along as they have been applied to biological tests, and now they are becoming more reasonably sized, reliable, and user-friendly.

Why is this conference/organization important?

The sooner mass spectrometry becomes common-place in the clinical lab, the sooner patient healthcare will improve and healthcare costs will decrease. MSACL hosts two conferences dedicated to the development and dissemination of information regarding the applications of mass spectrometry in the clinical laboratory. One in the United States, and one in Europe.

MSACL is focused on creating an exceptional experience for attendees and the most amenable atmosphere possible for learning, knowledge transfer and knowledge creation.

Your support will contribute to the ongoing mission of MSACL to enhance education in the area of mass spectrometry in the clinic.