AB SCIEX Expands Eksigent Microflow UHPLC Capabilities for LC/MS Workflows
New additions to ionization source improve performance, providing higher sensitivity
and better chromatographic resolution.
AB SCIEX, a global leader in life science analytical technologies, today announced
the extension of capabilities in Eksigent microflow ultra-high performance liquid
chromatography (UHPLC) with the launch of new electrospray ionization electrodes for
use with the industry standard Turbo VTM ionization source. These small diameter
electrodes significantly improve bioanalytical separation, resulting in higher
sensitivity, better resolution and improved throughput with Eksigent microflow UHPLC
systems.
The ability to detect lower levels of analytes in many sample types is a constant
need in any analytical laboratory. By concentrating similar injection volumes into
smaller analyte elution volumes, microflow UHPLC is a simple and cost-effective way
to improve sensitivity (LOQs) in order to meet this need. With the lower flow rates
utilized with micro LC, the use of smaller diameter electrospray ionization
electrodes minimize peak dispersion, resulting in high performance separations with
sharper, narrower sample peaks. This enables scientists to speed up their gradients
without losing their required chromatographic separation. In addition, narrower
peaks lead to increased peak height, which improves sensitivity.
Scientists at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences are among the first to
have early access to these new small diameter electrodes for the Eksigent micro LC
workflow. These scientists are performing high throughput amino acid analysis for
clinical research. To improve throughput, they went from high-flow LC to microflow
LC by switching to the ExpressHTTM-Ultra system, speeding up the run time for plasma
samples sixfold, which they analyze for derivatized "free" amino acids.
"The new Eksigent microflow electrodes enable us to further reduce the
inject-to-inject time by more than 30 percent, allowing us to analyze more samples
per day," said Prof. John Thaden, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor of Geriatrics,
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/HLKN, Texas A&M. "This translates into
valuable time and cost savings. With these new electrodes for the Eksigent microflow
system, the speed of the instrument is no longer the bottleneck. I now think of
micro LC in a whole new way."
In addition to the new electrodes, AB SCIEX is introducing a new hardware kit for
use with the ExpressHTTM-Ultra System that enables closer mounting of heated columns
to the Turbo V source to minimize tubing lengths and further maximize
chromatographic resolution. When the new electrodes are combined with the new column
heater mounting hardware, peak dispersion is minimized from the LC all the way into
the mass spectrometer. This allows scientists to obtain higher quality
chromatography. Because the peaks are narrower, the LC/MS gradient can be made
faster. These electrodes are designed to work with the Eksigent ExpressHTTM-Ultra
System on the AB SCIEX QTRAP®, Triple QuadTM and TripleTOFTM systems.
"Advancements in Eksigent technology continue to make it easier for scientists to
adopt micro LC," said Tina Settineri, Director of HPLC products for Eksigent at AB
SCIEX. "We are seeing an increasing number of scientists, especially in
bioanalytical laboratories, look to this proven, lower-flow liquid chromatography
approach as an attractive solution for improved sensitivity and throughput for
LC/MS. It reduces the burden on the mass spectrometer while delivering significant
savings in solvent cost and disposal fees. Eksigent brings a new dimension to
LC/MS-based analysis."
About AB SCIEX
AB SCIEX helps to improve the world we live in by enabling scientists and laboratory
analysts to push the limits in their field and address the complex analytical
challenges they face. The company's global leadership and world-class service and
support in the mass spectrometry industry have made it a trusted partner to
thousands of the scientists and lab analysts worldwide who are focused on basic
research, drug discovery and development, food and environmental testing, forensics
and clinical research. With over 20 years of proven innovation, AB SCIEX excels by
listening to and understanding the ever-evolving needs of its customers to develop
reliable, sensitive and intuitive solutions that continue to redefine what is
achievable in routine and complex analysis. For more information about the company,
go to www.absciex.com. Follow AB SCIEX on Twitter @ABSCIEX and on Facebook.
