Validation Profiles

Validation profiles define which fields are mandatory, recommended, or optional for a given reporting scenario. They allow the validator to give precise, context-sensitive feedback rather than applying a single fixed rule set to all files.

Validation profiles are under active development for mzTab-M 2.1. The definitions below reflect the current working draft; they may change before the 2.1 release.

Profile Definitions

Summary Mode

Applies when mzTab-mode is Summary. Only the MTD and SML sections are required. SMF and SME sections are permitted but not required.

This profile suits use cases where only consolidated, assay-level results are available (e.g., exported from a quantification tool without feature-level detail).

Complete Mode

Applies when mzTab-mode is Complete. MTD, SML, SMF, and SME sections are all required. All cross-references between sections must be fully resolved.

This profile is required for MetaboLights submission and for datasets where full identification evidence traceability is expected.

Identification Confidence Levels

Both profiles apply the PSI-MS identification confidence level vocabulary:

Level PSI-MS term Meaning

1

MS:1002955

Unambiguous molecular structure and adduct

2a

MS:1002956

Probable structure via library match

2b

MS:1002957

Probable structure via in silico prediction

3

MS:1002958

Putative molecular class

4

MS:1002959

Unknown

See the specification for full rules on how confidence levels interact with mandatory fields.

Mapping Files

Profile-specific field mappings are defined as XML documents in schema/:

  • schema/mzTab_2_1-M_mapping.xml — general field validation mapping

  • schema/mzTab_2_1-M_metabolights_mapping.xml — MetaboLights submission constraints