13 Questions You Should Ask When Buying Sample Prep Products
- What is your sample matrix?
- What volume of sample do you need to extract?
- What are your target analyte(s)?
- What are your sample clean-up goals (high recovery vs. clean-up vs. speed)?
- What sample preparation format is best for your work (i.e., disks or cartridges)?
- What is your mode of analysis (LC/UV, LC/MS/MS, GC/FID, GC/MS, etc.)?
- How quickly can the system perform exhaustive extractions?
- Can the extraction system operate unattended overnight?
- Does the system change solvents and perform rinses automatically between samples?
- What methods does the extraction system comply with? (i.e., U.S. EPA, ISO etc.)
- How does solvent consumption compare to other systems?
- Can the system handle solid and semisolid samples, or are multiple systems needed?
- Can the solvent be reclaimed?
What Sample Preparation Techniques Do You Use?
| Filtration | 20% |
| Solvent Extraction | 18% |
| Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE) | 15% |
| Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) | 14% |
| Protein Precipitation (PPT) | 7% |
| Dialysis | 4% |
| Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME) | 4% |
| Immunoaffinity Extraction (IAE) | 3% |
| Matrix Solid Phase Dispersion (MSPD) | 2% |
| Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) | 2% |
| Other | 11% |
Top 6 Features/Factors Respondents Look For in Sample Prep Techniques/Products
| Lower cost (less solvent, reagent consumption, etc…) | 97% |
| Greater accuracy / improve quality of data | 94% |
| Faster sample prep time (processing multiple samples) | 85% |
| Greater recoveries–minimal sample transfer | 50% |
| Easier data review | 44% |
| Improved safety (reduced solvent/sample exposure and glassware) | 39% |
