lipID--a software tool for automated assignment of lipids in mass spectra.

A new software tool called lipID is reported, which supports the identification of glycerophospholipids, glycosphingolipids, fatty acids and small oligosaccharides in mass spectra. The user-extendable software is a Microsoft (MS) Excel Add-In developed using Visual Basic for Applications and is compatible with all Versions of MS Excel since MS Excel 97. It processes singly given mass-to-charge values as well as mass lists considering a number of user-defined options. The software's mode of operation, usage and options are explained and the benefits and limitations of the tool are illustrated by means of three typical analytical examples of lipid analyses.