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Lab Manager Analytical Product Survey

2016 HPLC Systems Survey Results

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is, for many scientists, an essential chromatographic technique. HPLC systems used for the separation, identification, purification, and quantification of various chemical and biochemical solutions are composed of a pump, a sample injector, a separation column, a detection unit, and a data-processor.

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Trevor Henderson, PhD

Trevor Henderson BSc (HK), MSc, PhD (c), is the creative services director at Lab Manager.  He has more than two decades of experience in the fields of scientific...

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Top 6 Questions You Should Ask When Buying an HPLC System

  1. How flexible is the system? Can the system be optimized to meet your laboratory requirements?
  2. What tubes, vessels, and vials can it accommodate? Can components (such as additional detectors, valves, etc.) be upgraded in the future?
  3. Is the software easy to use and operate? Can a demo version be put in place to get a feel for how the software functions for your laboratory’s workflow?
  4. How is the system (not just components) qualified during installation to meet manufacturer performance expectations?
  5. Who provides the support and service for the product? Is it the manufacturer or a third party service group? If it is a third party service group, are they factory-trained?
  6. Finally, ask about the total cost of the purchase—not just the price of the product being installed— but the total cost of ownership, which includes price, service expectations, warranty, etc.

Types of HPLC systems used by survey respondents:

Analytical HPLC88%
UHPLC28%
Ion Chromatograph16%
Preparative HPLC14%
GPC9%
FPLC/Bio3%

HPLC separation modes utilized by survey respondents:

Reverse Phase80%
Normal Phase43%
Ion Exchange33%
Ultra-High performance (UHPLC)24%
Ion Chromatography22%
Hydrophilic Interaction (HILIC)21%
Size Exclusion (SEC)18%
Chiral 13%
Gel Filtration (GFC)10%
Affinity10%
Gel Permeation (GPC)8%
Ion Exclusion4%

Nearly 53% of respondents are engaged in purchasing a new HPLC system. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:

Replacement of an aging system
46%
 
Addition to existing systems, increase capacity
29%
Setting up a new lab
17%
First time purchase
5%
Other
3%

Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing an HPLC system:

Accuracy93%
Quality of data93%
Resolution81%
Sensitivity78%
Precise and accurate flow rates77%
Ease-of-use66%
Availability of supplies and accessories60%
Maintenance59%
Service and support56%
Availability of techniques48%

For more information on HPLC systems, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/HPLC-systems


See the most recent survey results here