GC-MS Systems

Top 5 Signs That You Should Replace Your Gas Chromatograph and Mass Spectrometer

		The regular servicing and the cost of service are increasing.The GC and MS systems are designed to last 10+ years; however, there will come a point when normal wear-and-tear will make it very difficult to maintain acceptable performance. You will be able to track this by the increasing number of service calls and the cost of that service. Add those costs to lost productivity, and the solution is replacement.
		The GC or GC-MS system is not able to keep up with increasing regulatory requirements. It is rare when regulatory requirements become easier to meet. There are a lot of method parameters that can be adjusted on a GC and GC-MS to meet the increasing requirements. However, the accuracy and precision of the old equipment will not be able to meet new requirements no matter how you adjust the method. A new GC or GC-MS can be used to meet the current requirements and will allow the laboratory to meet future requirements.
		There is a drift in the method performance of the system. This drift can be in the form of method calibration or retention time. Calibration drift is generally due to the fact that the detector is no longer able to maintain a consistent current, plasma, or connection depending on the detector technology. More frequent re-calibration may be able to compensate, but this means lost time and productivity. Drift in retention times is generally due to the carrier gas control. If there is electronic control, the EPC may have a leak or is just no longer able to sufficiently control the pressure. This will be seen as randomly changing retention times. If there is a leak deep in the system you will be losing carrier gas, most commonly helium, potentially costing the lab large amounts of money.
		The laboratory is not able keep up with the projects and sample load. Every laboratory is asked to do more, respond faster and operate with less staff. New GC and GC-MS systems incorporate advances that allow reduced sample preparation, faster analysis and less operator attention. In some cases, the new GC or GC-MS can take the place of two or more systems, which also frees bench space for other functions. In this case the older equipment can be relegated to other less critical analyses, used as parts for other equipment, or retired.
		Software upgrades, service contracts, and replacement parts are no longer available. As a GC or GC-MS system reaches 10 years of operation, repair parts are more expensive and difficult to locate. In turn, the cost of service increases, and service contracts may not be available at all. The latest software may not be compatible with older communication boards or not compatible with older PC hardware and operating systems. A new PC may not be an option either without costly upgrades of software. These hardware and software incompatibilities can lead to communications errors, failed sequences and lost samples-and lost laboratory efficiency.

Top 7 Questions That You Should Ask When Buying a GC MS System

	What factors come into play when determining the GC-MS specifications you require in terms of throughput, sensitivity, precision, robustness, software and results displayed?
	What differentiates the vendor’s GC-MS from others offered, in terms of performance?
	How do you validate the specification claims presented by the vendor?
	Has the data processing software been designed for enhanced analytics, with lab workflow in mind and does it support critical compliance requirements?
	Are there specific analysis packages available for the product? If so what are the limitations of each package, e.g. is the package CI-upgradable?
	This includes an effective distribution of instruments, spare parts, education, and service personnel. How does the company serve these needs in your area?
	Besides published specifications, what can the vendor show you to validate performance in your lab with real-world samples?

Recently Released GC-MS Systems

5977A Series GC/MSD

• 5977A Series GC/MSD enjoys all the benefits of the 7890B GC and features a redesigned inert MS ion source that enhances performance with highly efficient ion collection
• In combination, the 7890B/5977A GC/MSD delivers increased sample throughput, expanded analytical capabilities, reduced maintenance and decreased cost for energy and gases
• Includes both the ChemStation Data Analysis software and MassHunter Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis software

Agilent
www.agilent.com

AxION® iQT GC/MS/MS

• Provides greater quantitative capabilities to that of a triple quadrupole, while quickly identifying compounds like a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) at a rate of up to 500 compounds per second
• Gives laboratories easier to use technology, faster results, and more specific, selective data needed to make more accurate decisions faster
• Easy to use for non-experts

PerkinElmer
www.perkinelmer.com

TSQ 8000 Triple Quadrupole GC-MS System

• Now includes negative and positive ion chemical ionization (CI) capabilities
• Makes it easy for users to address further the chemical diversity they face in their most challenging analyses
• New direct insertion and direct exposure probe options further enhance the user’s ability to analyze samples

Thermo Fisher Scientific
www.thermoscientific.com

GCMS-TQ8030

• High-sensitivity analysis allows a wide variety of measurement modes, including MRM, scan, combination scan/MRM, and neutral loss scan
• Features Shimadzu’s UFsweeper® technology, which minimizes collision cell length and provides high-CID efficiency and high ion transport speed
• Comes equipped with Advanced Scanning Speed Protocol
• Makes high-speed MRM acquisition possible

Shimadzu
www.ssi.shimadzu.com

GC-MS Systems Manufacturers