HPLC Autosamplers

Chromatographers who learned their craft 20 years ago may not have been familiar with autosamplers then, but today nearly every high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instrument includes an autosampler as standard equipment.

Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying an hplc autosampler

1. How many samples do you deal with in your lab on a monthly basis? If you deal with a high number, an autosampler is probably a good investment. However, if you only have a small number of samples in your lab, a manual injector may be a more economical option. But, even with a small amount of samples, the improved accuracy and repeatability of an autosampler may be worth investing in.

2. What size are the samples you are dealing with? Autosamplers are much more accurate than human beings, even when working with tiny samples. If you deal with many low-volume situations in your lab, an autosampler is usually a good idea.

3. How fast is the instrument’s cycle time and sample loading speed? These are important if speed is a priority in your lab.

4. What kind of service and support are offered for the autosampler (warranties, etc.)?

5. H ow much does it cost to buy, run, and maintain the instrument?

Five Fast Facts on HPLC Autosamplers:

• Today, about 95 percent or more of HPLC systems from major manufacturers ship with autosamplers, a testament to the improved reliability and reproducibility of autosampler hardware and controls over past instruments.

• By automatically drawing from and injecting a predetermined set of samples, autosamplers spare lab analysts from uninteresting, repetitive work. Most autosamplers handle multiple sample containers, including microtiter plates, by default.

• Autosamplers have eliminated persistent sources of error associated with manual sampling and injection, allowing analysts to target other possible sources of chromatographic anomalies. Now, analysts need only set up a tray of samples and make sure the correct sample is in the right vial.

• Autosamplers aren’t a good fit for everyone—academic labs still rely heavily on manual sampling and injection because their primary objective, aside from data quality, is cost effectiveness.

• Speed, throughput, and reduced sample volumes are critical for most analytical laboratories, and autosamplers play prominently among the various “fast” techniques adopted toward achieving those goals. Autosamplers have become critical enablers—like columns, pumps, and detectors—of these trends.

Recently Released HPLC Autosamplers

1260 Infinity Standard Autosampler
• Provides reliable injections from 0.1 μL to 100 μL.
• Easy adaption for injection volumes up to 1500 μL for applications ranging from microbore to semi-preparative chromatography
• Features low internal volume of 300 μL for the minimum contribution to a system’s total internal volume can be even further reduced using “by-pass” mode

Agilent
www.agilent.com

AS3000 Variable-Volume Autosampler
• Provides strong performance and maximum flexibility in an LC sample processing system
• SpectraSystem modules provide high-performance automatic sampling at entry level pricing
• Configuration flexibility includes fixed volume injection, variable volume injection, column oven, sample preparation, and sample tray temperature control
• Micro-robotic operation; 120-vial capacity with random vial access

Thermo Fisher Scientific
www.thermoscientific.com

LaChrom Elite® L-2200
• Provides a wide range of injection volumes from 0.1 μ L to 4.5 mL
• Dual valve design reduces cycle time
• Thermo-electric cooling option prevents degradation of sensitive samples
• Includes programmable developers’ kit for performing procedures such as automatic sample dilution and derivatization

Hitachi High Technologies
www.hitachi-hta.com

Flexar
• Injects sample volumes as little as 1 μL at pressures up to 15,000 psi with the FX UHPLC autosampler
• Loads sample in only 8 seconds (in partial fill mode)
• Three injection modes: full loop, partial fill and μLpickup with no sample waste
• Peltier cooling/heating mode option for operation at 4°C to 40°C. Will reach with 4°C ± 2°C achievable even at ambient temperatures up to 25°C

PerkinElmer
www.perkinelmer.com

HPLC Autosampler Manufacturers