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2016 Product Resource Guide: Sample Preparation

Lab Manager's guide to purchasing sample prep products.

by Lab Manager

13 Questions You Should Ask When Buying Sample Prep Products

  1. What is your sample matrix?
  2. What volume of sample do you need to extract?
  3. What are your target analyte(s)?
  4. What are your sample clean-up goals (high recovery vs. clean-up vs. speed)?
  5. What sample preparation format is best for your work (i.e., disks or cartridges)?
  6. What is your mode of analysis (LC/UV, LC/MS/MS, GC/FID, GC/MS, etc.)?
  7. How quickly can the system perform exhaustive extractions?
  8. Can the extraction system operate unattended overnight?
  9. Does the system change solvents and perform rinses automatically between samples?
  10. What methods does the extraction system comply with? (i.e., U.S. EPA, ISO etc.)
  11. How does solvent consumption compare to other systems?
  12. Can the system handle solid and semisolid samples, or are multiple systems needed?
  13. 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%

 

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