Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
LCMS includes wide range of products from Single quads to HRMS. Typically, Single quads are used for identification and quantitation workflows requiring low mass accuracy and less sensitivity. Moving forward for higher sensitivity Triple quads are choice of instruments.
Triple quadrupoles (TQ)
The Triple quadrupoles are offered from different manufacturers with wide range differences in sensitivity.
The triple quad LCMS offers high specificity and high sensitivity. Quantitation TQ is based on monitoring specific molecules and its fragment ions. The scientist needs to choose which brand and which model will be appropriate for the application desired. For example, a lower sensitive application like in quantitation of vitamins in food supplements can be analyzed on any entry level model from different brands; while a high sensitive application e.g, low level nitrosamine quantitation, bioanalytical quantitation of inhalation drug might require a top end model from each vendor.
Which LCMS is suitable for my analysis ?
A below comparison of different models form various manufacturer may help to understand the sensitivity and application requirement. Most of the specification are open and available on manufacturers’ website.
Waters LCMS
Agilent LCMS
Simadzu LCMS
Sciex LCMS