High Res Mass Spec For Routine Testing?
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Today we have seen SCIEX launch a brand new high resolution mass spec (HRMS) system aimed at the routine testing market. Traditionally ill adapted to users' needs in routine testing, HRMS is known for delivering complex and unreliable results. However after receiving extensive customer input, SCIEX believe that they have delivered a system capable of overcoming these barriers - the X500R.
To learn more about the challenges faced in routine testing labs and how the X500R helps users overcome them, we spoke to Vincent Paez, Senior Director for Food, Environment and Forensics Testing at SCIEX.
AB: Why is high resolution mass spec not commonly used by routine testing labs?
Vincent Paez (VP): High resolution MS technology has not been widely adopted by routine food, environmental, and forensic testing labs due to the complexities of using the hardware, lack of robustness, and complex software, making operation challenging, especially in a routine laboratory where the technical skill level is not as high as the research labs.
AB: How does the X500R system overcome these current obstacles?
VP: The X500R overcomes these complexities with workflows that are easy to deploy for routine labs in a system balanced for high performance, ease of use and reliability, so labs can adopt high resolution MS to easily collect clear, confident results without making performance trade-offs.
The new design of the hardware simplifies the number of parameters required for optimization, eliminating some of the complexities seen with many HRMS systems. The introduction of the Turbo V ionization source, as well as other design features in the hardware including automated calibration and TOF chamber temperature controls, are all new design features incorporated to enhance system robustness, making it ideal for routine testing labs. Operating and servicing the instrument is easy. And finally, the all new SCIEX OS software to power the system was designed based on real user workflows so that data processing is significantly streamlined. Our high resolution MS/MS libraries complement the entire workflow to help remove ambiguity from results and offer more confidence in compound identification.
AB: Can you tell me more about the Turbo V™ Source and how this helps performance of the X500R?
VP: The Turbo V source is one of the most distinguishable features of SCIEX mass spec systems, and routine testing labs have attributed the robustness and stable performance of SCIEX systems to this design element. The combination of the orthogonal spray design and the curtain gas interface makes the Turbo V a robust ion source that does not require frequent cleaning due to matrix build-up. This results in excellent sensitivity and reproducibility for the analytes of interest with increased ruggedness for long runs and reduced impact from matrix interferences. This source over the years has become the industry standard in food testing, and SCIEX has transported it to use with this new Accurate Mass system.
When designing a high resolution system for routine food, environmental, and forensic customers – where samples matrices are complex and long runs of many samples are the norm – it was imperative to have an ionization source to deliver that robust performance.
AB: Do you believe that with the X500R you have created a system that has the ability to change the mind sets of users in routine testing labs?
VP: Absolutely. In fact, we hear routine testing customers saying this over and over again – they want to adopt and migrate to high resolution MS for the benefits it provides in added selectivity and additional capabilities, but no system out there has been suitable to address common challenges routine testing labs are facing (robust to deal with complex samples, software that can deliver clear reliable answers, meeting fast sample turnaround times, enough sensitivity and complete MS/MS information to meet regulatory guidance, etc.). We’ve designed a system that can address these challenges, and we think the routine users will be excited to adopt the technology.
Vincent Paez, was speaking to Ashley Board, Managing Editor at Technology Networks.
To learn more about the challenges faced in routine testing labs and how the X500R helps users overcome them, we spoke to Vincent Paez, Senior Director for Food, Environment and Forensics Testing at SCIEX.
AB: Why is high resolution mass spec not commonly used by routine testing labs?
Vincent Paez (VP): High resolution MS technology has not been widely adopted by routine food, environmental, and forensic testing labs due to the complexities of using the hardware, lack of robustness, and complex software, making operation challenging, especially in a routine laboratory where the technical skill level is not as high as the research labs.
AB: How does the X500R system overcome these current obstacles?
VP: The X500R overcomes these complexities with workflows that are easy to deploy for routine labs in a system balanced for high performance, ease of use and reliability, so labs can adopt high resolution MS to easily collect clear, confident results without making performance trade-offs.
The new design of the hardware simplifies the number of parameters required for optimization, eliminating some of the complexities seen with many HRMS systems. The introduction of the Turbo V ionization source, as well as other design features in the hardware including automated calibration and TOF chamber temperature controls, are all new design features incorporated to enhance system robustness, making it ideal for routine testing labs. Operating and servicing the instrument is easy. And finally, the all new SCIEX OS software to power the system was designed based on real user workflows so that data processing is significantly streamlined. Our high resolution MS/MS libraries complement the entire workflow to help remove ambiguity from results and offer more confidence in compound identification.
AB: Can you tell me more about the Turbo V™ Source and how this helps performance of the X500R?
VP: The Turbo V source is one of the most distinguishable features of SCIEX mass spec systems, and routine testing labs have attributed the robustness and stable performance of SCIEX systems to this design element. The combination of the orthogonal spray design and the curtain gas interface makes the Turbo V a robust ion source that does not require frequent cleaning due to matrix build-up. This results in excellent sensitivity and reproducibility for the analytes of interest with increased ruggedness for long runs and reduced impact from matrix interferences. This source over the years has become the industry standard in food testing, and SCIEX has transported it to use with this new Accurate Mass system.
When designing a high resolution system for routine food, environmental, and forensic customers – where samples matrices are complex and long runs of many samples are the norm – it was imperative to have an ionization source to deliver that robust performance.
AB: Do you believe that with the X500R you have created a system that has the ability to change the mind sets of users in routine testing labs?
VP: Absolutely. In fact, we hear routine testing customers saying this over and over again – they want to adopt and migrate to high resolution MS for the benefits it provides in added selectivity and additional capabilities, but no system out there has been suitable to address common challenges routine testing labs are facing (robust to deal with complex samples, software that can deliver clear reliable answers, meeting fast sample turnaround times, enough sensitivity and complete MS/MS information to meet regulatory guidance, etc.). We’ve designed a system that can address these challenges, and we think the routine users will be excited to adopt the technology.
Vincent Paez, was speaking to Ashley Board, Managing Editor at Technology Networks.
