The Essentials of Sample Preparation

Sample preparation is a foundational element for precise analysis, ensuring product safety and regulatory adherence. This critical process refines samples for compatibility with advanced analytical techniques like chromatography, mass spectrometry, nucleic acid techniques and flow cytometry. Lab essentials ensure precise sample preparation, crucial for accurate results in quality control testing. Top-notch lab essentials strengthen sample processing, transforming samples for analysis while preserving key compounds and eliminating contaminants. Thereby, prolonging the life of chromatography columns, analytical instruments and minimizing interferences. When preparing HPLC standards, improper weighing and manual calculation can lead to unrepeatable and imprecise standard series. Lab balances with ultra-high resolution can be used for precise preparation of calibration standards and sample solutions. Tools for Reliable and Accurate Sample Preparation Lab Weighing Lab Water The Essentials of Sample Preparation Common problem Solution Bottled water can incur high costs with higher risk of contamination as it is usually used by more than one person with repeated opening and closing of the bottle. By choosing a water system that can be flexibly configured, ensure that your sample is treated with the highest quality solvent and mobile phase. Common problem Solution Allow accurate sample and solvent weighing for further analytics Avoid sample transfer by weighing small samples directly in large containers Enable extremely low sample weight and concentration, adhering with USP and FDA requirements Guarantee fast stabilization by eliminating static Guide throughout the workflow with Q-App software and digital documentation of the entire process in a 21 CFR part 11 compliant record Provide step-by-step guidance to simplify both routine and advanced cleaning procedures Lab water systems for consistent baseline and fewer ghost peaks Prevents interference and false positive and negative results in analytics Sartorius Type 2 pure water can be used for general applications and ELISA washing Sartorius Type 1 ultrapure water can be used for sensitive assays (ICP, MS or HPLC) Improper filtration of samples reduces the quality and consistency of analytical results and decreases instrument downtime. Therefore, it is important to remove particulate impurities from liquid samples prior to HPLC analysis. Use syringe filters with fast flow rates and lower absorption characteristics without adding unwanted extractables or leachables that will contaminate your sample or affect your measurement results. Common problem Solution Syringe filters for clean particle-removal Removes particulates and microorganisms Selection based on sample compatibility and sample volume Ensure sterility and protect analytical instruments Syringe Filters Pipetting & Dispensing Unreliable and inaccurate pipetting can lead to contamination of samples and incorrect sample volumes. Pipettes and tips can be used for accurate and inert transfer of even the smallest volumes. Common problem Solution Precision volume measurements for consistent results Connected electronic pipettes smoothly run preinstalled sample preparation workflows, speeding up your work Quality filter tips to avoid cross-contamination caused by aerosols and compatible with main solvents Ergonomic design to prevent user fatigue and errors This infographic has been created as part of a Bioanalysis Zone feature in association with Sartorius. Flow cytometry Mass spectrometry Chromatography Nucleic acid techniques