Empowering precise quantitation and diverse scan types for robust analytical methods, ensuring reproducibility and reliability across many applications
SCIEX has a long history in mass spectrometry. Over 30 years ago, scientists at SCIEX cracked the liquid-phase/gas-phase dilemma, revolutionizing quantitative analysis with LC-MS/MS technology. Since then, SCIEX has continued to innovate and evolve and currently offers a comprehensive portfolio of triple quadrupole systems to address sensitivity requirements for myriad assays while also keeping in mind financial obligations.
Building off our legacy of trusted technology, our family of benchtop solutions deliver everything from routine to high-throughput, specialized workflows. Setting new standards for instrument resilience and robustness, with versatility and specificity, LC-MS/MS outperforms gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) alone, allowing researchers to analyze more compounds per injection, achieve lower quantitation limits, and increase their sample throughput and productivity. Boasting modern, user-friendly designs and easy to learn software tools, SCIEX Triple Quadrupole systems cater to a broad spectrum of applications in life science research, pharmaceutical research and development, and applied markets. Constantly innovating on features that benefit the customer, SCIEX LC-MS/MS systems can be counted on when customers are under pressure to make critical decisions.
Features
Essential features of our triple quadrupole mass spectrometers
SCIEX offers a broad range of triple quadrupole mass spectrometers that fit budgetary and sensitivity requirements. Each system provides unmatched performance across multiple attributes, including speed, sensitivity and specificity, wide inter- and intra-scan dynamic range, as well as robustness and reliability, making them the superior choice for targeted quantitative analysis. Some salient features of our portfolio include:
- Robust ion sources: Innovative technologies like the Turbo V and OptiFlow Pro ion sources with our Curtain Gas interface maximize ionization efficiency and offer wide flow rate ranges, giving customers flexibility of options for high performance.
- Fast polarity switching: Across the portfolio of triple quads, SCIEX systems offer fast polarity switching that allows user to rapidly analyze both positively and negatively charged ions in a single run.
- Fast scan speeds: SCIEX LC-MS/MS systems boast industry-leading scan speeds that allow customers to push the limits of detection at high speeds of analysis, incorporate new compounds into existing methods quickly, and increase the scope for large MRM panels.
- QTRAP technology: SCIEX Triple Quads are equipped with linear ion traps that provides a powerful integration of quantitative and qualitative capabilities. QTRAP functionality gives rise to various enhanced scan modes, like Enhanced Product Ion (EPI) that acquires complete MS/MS spectra. Unlike other trapping technologies that lose information from the lower 1/3 of the parent ion, MS/MS scans performed with SCIEX QTRAPs deliver complete spectrum covering the full mass range.
- Diverse scan types: Beyond the gold-standard targeted MRM experiments, SCIEX Triple Quads offer additional scan functions like Product Ion, Precursor Ion, Neutral Loss or Gain, and MRM3 (another unique QTRAP scan function), enabling customers simultaneous quantitation of multiple compounds as well as structural elucidation and characterization.
- Mass Guard Technology: Recently developed for the SCIEX 7500+ system, Mass Guard Technology reduces the risk of instrument contamination by novel ion filtering prior to mass separation. This allows the system to maintain its highest level of sensitivity for up to twice as long in complex matrices.
Applications
Applications of our triple quadrupole mass spectrometry systems
Designed for high sensitivity assays and selective quantitative analysis, and thanks to wide mass range options coupled with flexible source and LC options make SCIEX Triple Quadrupole systems versatile across many applications. Below are just a few of the application workflows where our systems can be found.
- Biomedical and omics research: Identify key genes, proteins, lipids and metabolites and easily integrate your data to find relevant insights.
- Pharma and biopharma: Make complex workflows easier and more efficient and deliver the highest data quality to transform your pharma discovery, development and manufacturing pipeline.
- Clinical research and diagnostics: Discover and validate new biomarkers or execute end-to-end validated workflows for high throughput testing in the clinic.
- Forensic analysis: Deliver fast, highly accurate data across a multitude of compounds and biomarkers, from the known to the new, and the novel.
- Food testing: Detect and identify targeted and non-targeted analysis at or below maximum residue limits with high-quality data you can trust.
- Environmental testing: Respond quickly and meet regulations (MRLs) with confident results for the screening, identification, and quantitation of low-level chemical contaminants.
FAQs
How does a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer work?
The operating principle of a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer involves exposing ions that were previously generated in the ion source, to a combination of alternating current (RF) and direct current (DC) voltages which are applied to a set of four parallel rods. This creates an electric field gradient where ions that have an m/z value corresponding to the stable oscillation parameters are selectively transmitted through to the detector, while the others become unstable and are effectively filtered out. The oscillation parameters can be optimized for a wide range of mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of ions, making triple quadrupoles excellent at the precise analysis and quantification of ions in a sample.
What are the advantages of triple quadrupole mass spectrometers?
SCIEX Triple Quadrupole mass spectrometers are versatile analytical instruments that offer several advantages, making them widely used in various scientific and industrial applications:
Speed and Throughput - SCIEX Triple Quads operate a high scan speeds, allowing for the rapid analysis of samples. This makes them suitable for high-throughput applications, routine analyses in industries such as environmental monitoring and pharmaceuticals, as well as analysis of very complex mixtures of low sample volumes.
Versatility – SCIEX Triple Quadrupoles offer flexibility in LC, ionization, and separation techniques, which accommodates a wide range of sample types and matrices.
Reliability - SCIEX Triple Quads are known for their robustness and stability, providing consistent and reliable results over extended periods.
Ease of Use - The user-friendly design and straightforward operation of triple quadrupole mass spectrometers make them useful for researchers and analysts. They also require less maintenance compared to some other mass spectrometers.
Quantitative Analysis – SCIEX Triple Quads are well-suited for quantitative analysis due to their efficient and stable ionization technology, and predictable ion transmission characteristics.
What is the difference between Quadrupole Time-of-Flight and Triple Quadrupole mass spectrometers?
Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometers (QTOF MS)
In a field-free drift tube, lighter ions travel faster than heavier ions. Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry takes advantage of this and relies on measuring the time it takes for ions to travel a specific distance allowing for the separation and subsequent detection of ions based on their time of flight.
Quadrupole Time-of-Flight (QTOF) systems combine the benefits of the selective power of triple quadrupole-based mass filtering with an accurate mass TOF analyzer, providing customers with very sensitive and precise mass-to-charge ratio measurements. QTOF instruments are known for having high resolution and enabling identification of unknowns and characterization of compounds. QTOFs provide a balance of resolution, speed, and structural insight, but usually have lower sensitivity compared to triple quads.
Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometers
As described earlier, triple quadrupole mass spectrometers operate on the principle of selectively transmitting ions through a quadrupole mass filter, effectively only allowing ions with chosen and specific mass-to-charge ratios to pass through to the detector. Triple quads are universally recognized for their high speed and quantitative accuracy, making them well-suited for routine analyses and high-throughput applications.
The selection between QTOF and Triple Quad depends on the specific analytical requirements and the trade-offs that are deemed acceptable for a given application. A good rule of thumb is: Is your main need to quantify your sample with high precision and accuracy? Then a triple quad might be the instrument of choice. Or do you need to identify novel compounds, characterize knowns, and/or gain deeper insights from your sample? Then a QTOF system might be better suited for your workflow. It’s always best to speak to your Mass Spectrometry Sales Specialist – we are here to answer all your question and point you to the right system for your needs.
What factors should be considered when choosing a triple quad mass spectrometer for a laboratory?
When selecting a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for a laboratory, several factors must be considered to ensure optimal performance and suitability for specific analytical needs:
Sensitivity and selectivity – Understand what your needs are for quantitation of your target analytes. The SCIEX portfolio offers a range of systems that have different levels of sensitivity capabilities that will match your needs.
Dynamic range - Consider the dynamic range of the instrument and your samples to ensure the instrument can handle the analyte concentrations in your sample without saturation.
Speed and throughput - Assess the speed of data acquisition and overall throughput to meet your laboratory's analytical demands efficiently.
Ease of use - Consider the user interface, software capabilities, and overall ease of operation for seamless integration into laboratory workflows.
Maintenance requirements - Evaluate the maintenance needs, considering factors such as ease of troubleshooting, amount of user-serviceability, availability of service technicians, and general robustness of the systems. An instrument that is sensitive but gets dirty too often and unpredictably will not give you the confidence to tackle your greatest challenges or deliver a good return on investment.
Compatibility with sample matrices - Ensure the instrument is compatible with the sample matrices that you will encounter and that the source is reliable and delivers efficient ionization.
Cost of Ownership - Consider the overall cost of ownership, including initial purchase price, maintenance costs, and consumables, to determine long-term affordability. Some triple quads have components like ion transfer capillaries that can be costly in both time and money to replace regularly.
What is the typical workflow for using a triple quad mass spectrometer?
Simply put, the basic steps of a typical workflow are: Sample preparation, ionization, analysis by the mass spectrometer, and data analysis.
The most conventional mass spectrometry workflow is an MRM experiment, where the precursor ions of interest are selected and filtered in the first quadrupole. The selected ions are then fragmented in the collision cell (the second quadrupole), and then the third quadrupole isolates and detects specific product ions, enabling the precise quantification and identification of the ions of interest. The instrument's software analyzes the data, providing insights into the composition and concentration of analytes in the sample.
What are the maintenance requirements for triple quad mass spectrometers?
Most of the maintenance requirements for your triple quad mass spectrometer include non-mass spectrometry-based checks and inspections. It is highly recommended that your hardware and software be under a service contract so that you stay fully operational. A mass spectrometry system that is regularly served will perform up to 18% more productively compared to a system without a service plan. Some maintenance and tips and tricks that you can quickly do to help may include:
Mobile phase preparation and maintenance: It is imperative that your mobile phases stay clean and fresh and only the highest quality solvents are used.
Ion source cleaning - Regular maintenance of the ionization source to maintain sensitivity and prevent contamination usually includes simply wiping down the inside with a solvent like methanol.
Calibration Checks - Regular calibration checks to maintain accuracy and precision in mass measurements.
Vacuum System Inspection - Monitoring and maintaining the vacuum system to ensure proper instrument performance.
Software Updates - Keeping the instrument's acquisition and processing software up-to-date to access the latest features and improvements.
Checking and Replacing Consumables - Regular inspection and replacement of consumables such columns and autosampler needles.