Why SCIEX LC-MS/MS?
The SCIEX Triple Quad 3500 LC-MS/MS system combines the ease of liquid chromatography with its inherently broad analyte applicability, with the quantitative power of triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).

The power of liquid chromatography for separation (LC)
Simplify sample preparation and reduce contamination

Liquid chromatography is amenable to the analysis of a wide array of analytes. In fact, many compounds that are difficult to analyze by GC such as thermally labile and chemically unstable analytes, amines, and semi-volatile compounds, are ideal candidates for LC-MS/MS. GC based assays, including GC-FID and GCMS, typically require samples to be in an organic injection solvent. This often necessitates derivatization of hydrophilic analytes to improve their volatility, ionization, or peak shape. Although usually more straightforward, HPLC-UV and HPLC-DAD assays can also involve complicated sample preparation techniques and be labor intensive depending upon the compound class. In contrast, while LC-MS/MS sample preparation methods can include solid-phase extraction or liquid-liquid extraction, they are often as simple as direct injection, dilution, or protein precipitation. By minimizing sample handling and decreasing the number of sample preparation steps, not only are areas for contamination minimized, but time is saved as well. And with today’s ultra-high performance LC systems (UHPLC), you can save even more time with ultra-fast chromatographic separations.

The power of tandem mass spectrometry for analysis (MS/MS)
Increase selectivity and improve detection limit

Mass spectrometry has been used as a powerful back-end detector for chromatographic separation techniques for over 50 years. It not only acts as a physical detection device that marks the specific retention time for your analyte, but it also provides an additional layer of specificity by providing molecular weight information on each compound. Now imagine that power intensified. With tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) you’ll gain yet another level of selectivity through detection of analyte-specific product ions. Through a process called multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), analyte precursor ions are selected in the first stage of analysis, dissociated into fragment ions within the second stage, and selectively filtered and detected within the third stage of analysis. Thus, by sequentially selecting and fragmenting each analyte so that only analyte-specific product ions are detected, the specificity and sensitivity of the assay can be improved exponentially. Additionally, co-eluting analytes and samples within complex matrices that may have been problematic for other assays, can greatly benefit from the additive power that MS/MS provides.

The power of a triple quadrupole for quantitation (Triple Quad)
Save time and achieve the highest assay performance

When it comes to MS/MS for quantitation, the type of mass analyzer matters. Triple quadrupole based mass spectrometers offer the best combined specifications for speed, sensitivity, specificity, dynamic range, and multiplexing capabilities for targeted quantitative MRM analysis versus any other type of mass analyzer. They are truly the gold-standard for targeted detection and quantitation . With a triple quadrupole based LC-MS/MS system not only can you achieve greater performance for many of your traditional GC and HPLC based assays, but new analytes can be added and new assays can be created, continually expanding the portfolio of services you can provide with one instrument. With LC-MS/MS, there’s an assay for every molecule