A direct method for the simultaneous compound-specific determination of vitamin B 12 (cyanocobalamin), its analogues methylcobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, adenosylcobalamin (coenzyme B 12 ) and cobinamides by ionspray MS was developed. Single and tandem MS modes were compared. For all the compounds except hydroxocobalamin, the most intense ion formation was observed as a result of protonation of the original molecular cation leading to an analytically useful doubly charged ion. For hydroxocobalamin a similar process leads to the loss of the functional group leading to the [Cbl + H] 2+ ion, which is analytically useful only in the absence of other cobalamins. Hydroxocobalamin can be determined in the presence of other compounds using the minor [OH-Cbl] + ion. The calibration curves are linear in the range 0.01-1 mg ml 21 , which can be extended up to 10 mg ml 21 if alternative ions are chosen. Detection limits of 5-40 ng ml 21 are obtained. Collision-induced dissociation leads first to the loss of the Co substituent (Me, CN, OH, adenosyl) and thus to a decrease in selectivity. The method was applied to the analysis of a synthetic mixture of the cobalamins and to the determination of hydroxocobalamin in a commercial pharmaceutical preparation.