A characteristic mass spectral fingerprint setting method and a rapid identification method for Chinese herbal medicines or prescriptions are provided, which comprise directly injecting extracts of Chinese herbal medicines or prescriptions into a mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization interface via an autosampler of a liquid chromatograph without going through a separation column to make a mass spectrum analysis; performing a series of mass spectrum analyses for various Chinese herbal medicines or prescription extracts; picking out the mass spectrum peaks representing the features of each of the Chinese herbal medicines or prescriptions as respective characteristic mass spectral fingerprints to establish a characteristic mass spectral fingerprint database of the Chinese herbal medicine or prescription; directly injecting an extract of the Chinese herbal medicines or prescription to be tested into a mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization interface to make a mass spectrum analysis; and comparing and analyzing the obtained mass spectrum data with the characteristic mass spectral fingerprint database so as to rapidly identify the Chinese herbal medicine or prescription to be tested.
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