Advances in GC-MS systems to revolutionise routine analysis

Increasing compliance and efficiency needs can now be met with scalable, effective and easy-to-use gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) solutions, designed to provide advanced levels of performance and throughput for environmental, food and forensic laboratories.

The new Thermo Scientific TSQ 9000 triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS system and Thermo Scientific ISQ 7000 single quadrupole GC-MS system provide effective and efficient analytical solutions through maximum uptime, ease-of-use and impressive sensitivity to meet increasing resource and regulatory demands. The systems, which were introduced in February 2018, were recently on display at analytica 2018 in Munich.

"Analytical laboratories around the world must meet significant challenges to keep up with increased regulatory requirements," said Morten Bern, general manager, GC/GC-MS, chromatography and mass spectrometry, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "To meet these challenges, and to keep up with evolving resource needs, our newest generation of GC-MS systems has been designed with the performance and scalability to enable both experienced and new users to meet the demands of today and tomorrow."

The TSQ 9000 triple quadrupole GC-MS/MS system is designed to provide exceptional productivity and sensitivity for any laboratory targeting the quantitation of trace compounds in complex sample matrices. Users can benefit from reduced cost-per-sample in a routine analysis environment, without compromising analytical performance or uptime through selective reaction monitoring (SRM) sensitivity.

The ISQ 7000 single quadrupole GC-MS system is a scalable platform from base to highly sensitive configuration intended to boost performance when needed and ready when needed to adapt to continuously changing regulations. It offers extended uptime and robustness that can help customers maximize sample throughput along with routine, easy-to-use smart tools designed to simplify operation and speed up instrument familiarization.

Both systems can be equipped with a new advanced electron ionization (AEI) source designed to provide efficient ionization of target compounds with high sensitivity while also extending challenging detection limits. Additionally, both systems feature the new and patented Thermo Scientific NeverVent technology, available in the systems’ ExtractaBrite ion source configuration, which is engineered to enhance system uptime by removing the need to vent the mass spectrometer during routine maintenance operations.

"The new AEI source makes analysis and data analysis so much easier," said Katie Banaszewski, method development scientist at Now Foods. "We have improved confidence in the data we obtain from our residue analysis and the highest uncompromised sensitivity."

For robust sample analysis and data management across multiple chromatography platforms, the Thermo Scientific Chromeleon XTR laboratory management software is equipped to manage every aspect of sample analysis – from sample login to testing and final reporting – to facilitate adherence to internal standard operating procedures and regulatory compliance with a full audit trail. Chromeleon XTR can also be used with multi-vendor chromatography systems to remotely manage staff-equipment interaction, supporting compliance while maintaining good laboratory practices for life science applications.