QSight Triple Quad 400 Series

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by various fungal species growing in foods and animal feeds. To minimize risk and protect consumers, mycotoxin levels in foods and/or feeds have been regulated by agencies in many countries around the world. A number of analytical methods for the determination of mycotoxins have been utilized in the past, however LC/MS/MS method has become the method of choice for quantification and confirmation of mycotoxins in various food sample matrices owing to its superior sensitivity, selectivity and capability of analyzing multiple target mycotoxins in a single run.

In this application note, a method for the analysis of 12 mycotoxins in a number of common food matrices (yellow corn, white corn, wheat, soybean, almond, oat breakfast cereal, and peanut butter) utilizing a QSight 220 LC/MS is presented. A stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA) technique is used, which has been proven to be the most effective and preferred calibration approach for mycotoxin analysis in complex sample matrices because it can not only compensate for sample matrix effects, but also minimize variations in analytical procedures.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), or Per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFCs), represent a group of anthropogenic chemicals that have been produced and widely used in industrial applications and consumer products since the 1950s. The unique physical and chemical characteristics of these compounds (highly stable and resistant to degradation), along with their ubiquitous use, have led to the accumulation of PFAS in the environment, with growing concern of human exposure to these chemicals. The most widely used analytical method for PFAS monitoring is LC/MS/MS owing to its high sensitivity, selectivity and robustness. Recently, with the advancement and availability of highly sensitive mass spectrometers, a trend towards developing a high throughput analytical method for monitoring PFASs by direct injection without SPE has been appreciated. The direct injection approach can achieve higher levels of sample throughput, and reduce potential analyte loss and contamination caused by SPE sample preparation, as demonstrated by this study using PerkinElmer’s QSight^® 420 mass spectrometer, coupled with UHPLC for the determination of trace amount of PFOA and PFOS in drinking and surface water samples.

Testing for the levels of pesticide and mycotoxins in cannabis is important to ensure consumer safety and quality control. In this work, the PerkinElmer application development team analyzed all 66 pesticides (including very hydrophobic and chlorinated pesticides typically analyzed by GC-MS/MS) and five mycotoxins spiked in cannabis flower extracts well below the action limits specified by the state of California. A LC-MS/MS instrument was used with ESI and APCI sources and a simple solvent extraction method with excellent recoveries for all analytes in acceptable range of 70-120%.

Aflatoxin B1 is considered to be the most genotoxic of the mycotoxins, and, when ingested by cows, is converted to aflatoxin M1 which has been shown to cause liver cancer in certain animals.

Several directives throughout the EU provide guidance on environmental quality standards for water, and define more than 30 priority substances as significant risk to humans. Many of the monitoring limits within these directives are set at low µg/L (ppb) levels, and as such, require highly sensitive methods and instrumentation.

In this study, various methods for the separation, detection and quantitation of complex polar contaminants by UHPLC/MS/MS are presented. Utilizing two columns and three separate analytical methods, metabolites such as trifluoracetic acid, the antidiabetic metformin, and various inorganic contaminants, such as chlorate and bromate are successfully and efficiently quantified.

Estrogens play an important role in human breast carcinogenesis and are of clinical importance. Currently, the most widely used techniques are automated immunoassays, owing to the fast sample throughput and minimal sample preparation required. However, these techniques suffer from poor accuracy and precision at low concentration levels, and are susceptible to interferences. The objective of this study was to develop a highly sensitive method for the analysis of estrogens in serum, without derivatization, using the QSight® 420 LC/MS/MS system.

Due to the large number of pesticides potentially used in rice production, the use of multi-residue methods capable of determining many pesticides in one single run is the most efficient approach. In this study, a fast, sensitive and selective multiresidue method has been developed for analysis of over 200 pesticides in rice samples by coupling a modified QuEChERS extraction method with LC-MS/MS. Using time-managedMRM^™ in the QSight^® triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, the optimum dwell time of multiple MRM transitions can be generated automatically for the targeted analytes.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) has become the method of choice for pesticide. The state of Oregon has issued regulatory limits for 59 pesticide residues in both cannabis flower and concentrates, while other states have come up with their own lists of pesticide residues relating to medical marijuana and cannabis testing.

A selective and sensitive LC/MS/MS method for fast identification and analysis of meat samples using three peptides specific for pork as biomarkers. . The optimized sample preparation procedure is easy to follow and can be used for analyzing raw, cooked and processed meat products. This method can selectively detect peptides from pork meat species at a threshold detection limit of 1% w/w (10 mg/g) in a variety of food products and thus the method can be useful for analysis of Halal food (or pork related food products) samples.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can contaminate foods during smoking, heating, and drying processes that allow combustion products to come into direct contact with food. They can also enter food supply chains through contaminated air and water, and accumulate in various food chains. Regulations are in place to monitor PAHs levels in foods; the EU set a stringent maximum residue limit (MRL) for BaP in muscle meat of smoked fish and smoked fishery products at 2 µg/kg.2 In this study, seafood samples were prepared using a QueChERS extraction method followed by a dispersive solid-phase extraction clean-up step. The samples were subsequently analyzed by coupling a UHPLC system with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

In this work, we present a fast and sensitive LC/MS/MS method

Glyphosate is a very polar compound with high solubility in water and low solubility in most organic solvents and, as such, requires methods based on derivatization which are labor-intensive and time consuming. The present work shows a 12 minute LC-MS/MS method with an amino-based column to analyze glyphosate and other related polar compounds in underivatized states, with exceptional selectivity and sensitivity.

Agricultural growing of hemp products for the purposes of cannabidiol (CBD) extraction was legalized in the United States with the passing of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. Since the act passed, heightened concern over the use of pesticides in hemp production has been appreciated. However, no federal guidance is currently available in the United States to standardize analytical methods for the detection and quantification of pesticide residues in hemp products.

In this application note, a robust and efficient single-run LC/MS/MS method for the determination of 66 pesticides, including hydrophobic and chlorinated pesticides typically analyzed by GC/MS/MS, is presented. Utilizing a PerkinElmer QSight^® 420 UHPLC with MS/MS detector and dual ESI and APCI sources, excellent recoveries in the range of 70-120% were achieved. The application note also outlines participation in an Emerald Scientific blind proficiency test, with acceptable results for all 66 pesticides.

Estrogen plays an important role in the human body, but excess concentrations of endogenous estrogens, a known endocrine disrupting compound (EDC), in urine have been linked to the development and growth of breast cancer and tumors in females. Endogenous estrogens, including estrone (E1), 17ß-estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3), have also been detected in environmental matrices such as surface, waste and drinking water, even after extensive removal treatments. The accurate and efficient quantification of estrogen in both urine and water is paramount to ensuring the health of humans and animals in impacted ecosystems.

This application note details a method for the analysis of three endogenous estrogens at low ng/L (ppt) levels in both urine and water matrices. The method presented utilizes a PerkinElmer QSight^® 420 triple quadrupole LC/MS/MS, and demonstrates good linearity, precision and accuracy, without the need for derivatization and concentration with SPE.

Following the 2018 legalization of recreational cannabis usage in Canada, the quality and safety of cannabis products has garnered significant attention. Health Canada has developed a regulatory program mandating pesticide testing on all cannabis products. Under the program, licensed producers (LPs) of cannabis products in Canada are required to send representative samples of products to independent laboratories for pesticide screening and quantification.

In this application note, a robust and reliable method for the analysis of 96 pesticides in cannabis flower by LC/MS/MS utilizing both ESI and APCI modes is presented. The method not only offers ultra-low detection limits at or below the Health Canada regulatory levels, but also offers significant efficiency gains over other available methodologies. Utilizing LC/MS/MS with both ESI and APCI modes obviates the need to perform both GC/MS/MS and LC/MS/MS analyses to analyze all 96 regulated pesticides, saving significant time and money for operators.

EU water policies are reevaluated on a consistent basis to ensure water sources do not contain contaminants at levels above regulatory levels. As regulations are reviewed, regulatory limits are often lowered, and analytical techniques must adapt to meet the new stringent requirements.

In this application note, an LC/MS/MS method for the determination of 214 regulated contaminants is presented. The direct injection method, utilizing a PerkinElmer^® QSight 420, is optimized with the use of dual ionization sources (APCI and ESI). Additionally, an inter-laboratory study is detailed to illustrate the method transferability between instruments, utilizing the compound Atrazine.

The use of cannabis concentrates and CBD products (edibles, topicals, vape products, etc.) has increased in popularity as new regulation has been passed legalizing medicinal and recreational use in a number of states and provinces. Testing to ensure that pesticide and mycotoxin levels in cannabis products are below regulatory levels is critical, however, the cannabis concentrate matrix presents many analytical challenges including higher sample matrix effects and an increased concentration of cannabinoids in the sample.

In this application note, an LC/MS/MS method for the analysis of 66 pesticides (including hydrophobic and chlorinated pesticides typically analyzed by GC/MS/MS) and five mycotoxins in a cannabis concentrate matrix is presented. Utilizing a QSight^® 420 LC/MS/MS instrument with dual APCI and ESI sources, the analysis yielded excellent recoveries and detection limits below those specified by the state of California cannabis regulations.

The Grape crop is one of the most important fruit crops consumed in the world. Grapes are consumed both as fresh and as processed products, such as wine, jam, juice, jelly, grape seed extract, raisins, vinegar and grape seed oil. A large variety of pesticides are used in grape production throughout its growing season to control pests and diseases in vineyards and to increase crop yield. Pesticide residue is a major concern for the stakeholders of the grape industry, due to more and more stringent regulations and safety standards in most countries.

Today’s plastics are some of the most used materials on a global volume basis. Broadly integrated into today’s industrial and commercial lifestyles, they make a major, irreplaceable contribution to virtually every product category.

In this compendium you will find a wide range of applications for polymers, plastics, rubbers and advanced materials. Discover how to put these applications to work for you simply and efficiently.

Cartridges containing cannabis extract or CBD are some of the cannabis industry’s fastest-growing major product categories. It is imperative that the composition of these products is understood to ensure that components in the product do not contribute to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). Vitamin E acetate, often used as a thickening agent in the production of vape oils obtained in the illicit market, has been suggested to be a cause for EVALI.

In this application note, an LC/MS/MS method for the determination of vitamin E acetate (tocopherol acetate) in vape oil cartridges is presented. The method, which quantifies vitamin E acetate in less than three minutes utilizing a QSight^® 420 triple quadrupole system, addresses the diversity and complexity of the cannabis and CBD matrix which have historically resulted in interferences that prevent rapid and accurate analysis.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a secondary metabolite produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus fungi species found in soil and organic matter, and is one of the most widely reported of the nearly 400 recognized mycotoxin contaminants of agricultural products. OTA can enter the human food chain through contaminated feed, primarily cereal-based, that is ingested by animals that are farmed for human consumption. OTA can also be found in wine owing to contamination of grapes by some species of Aspergillus, in particular, the strains of A. carbonarius and A. niger.

In this work, a rapid and sensitive analytical method for the determination of the extent to which OTA residues contaminate wine is presented. Utilizing a QSight 220 with both ESI and APCI ionization sources, OTA is detected and quantified in both red and white wine samples at two concentration levels - 0.5 and 2 µg/L.

This application note presents a sensitive and reliable LC/MS/MS method using the PerkinElmer QSight

Wine can often contain pesticides and fungicides that have been sprayed on the fruits during their growing period. In addition to these contaminants, wine can also contain additives that have been deliberately added during production processes to improve its flavor and color. In this study, a simple and sensitive LC-MS/MS method has been developed and applied for the determination of both pesticides and pigments in a single analytical run.

A simple and sensitive method for the simultaneous determination of plant growth regulators

In this study, the QSight LC-MS/MS system was used to evaluate the potential of eliminating sample preparation for trace level pesticide analysis in a complex sample such as wine. We injected undiluted red and white wine samples into the mass spectrometer and studied reproducibility in analysis of the spiked pesticides over 200 injections. The instrument showed excellent reproducibility with minimal signal drift during the duration of the study (over a week), confirming the robustness of the QSight mass spectrometer.

In this New Food article we discuss how to get around the challenges of the ever growing cannabis and CBD testing space. Read about our solutions for automated pesticide testing to cannabinoids to regulatory compliance.

Whether your lab is well established or just starting up, having a single-source partner who can offer turnkey solutions that meet the current regulations is essential to a successful business. For years, we’ve worked with government and contract cannabis laboratories to develop industry-leading methods, technology, and exceptional return on investment. We help drive analytical standards and commit to ensuring your laboratory has maximum uptime. Learn about our various testing methods and applications for cannabis analyses. Let us work with you to build an efficient workflow, so you can focus on growing your business and brand.

For third party food testing labs or producers who want to conduct aflatoxin M1 analysis in dairy products, our automated aflatoxin M1 ELISA assay and QSight LC/MS/MS aflatoxin M1 analyzer provide sensitive, accurate, and fit for purpose screening and confirmative analysis solutions that you can use out of box.

The grain industry is very complex. It’s global, diverse, and can also present analytical challenges. Today’s grain users demand more when it comes to quality, safety, and uniformity. In addition, they seek diverse products with unique characteristics.

PerkinElmer is equipped to help the grain industry in its quest to feed the world – nutritiously and economically. Our testing and analysis solutions encompass the three primary areas required for complete knowledge of grains and their derivatives – composition, functionality, and safety.

Food testing labs like yours are constantly challenged with accurately analyzing samples quickly and efficiently - all while striving to reduce costs due to market forces. Your commitment to ensuring meat and seafood are safe for consumption, as demand increases, is an uphill battle.

Our commitment to you: to provide a range of solutions across multiple technologies, products, and services that meets or exceeds the testing needs of food processors. Our solutions offer more efficiency and increased accuracy and sensitivity for better yields in real time with minimal training.

From instrumentation and software to consumables and reagents to service and support, we are dedicated to providing you with end-to-end solutions that ease your everyday challenges of automation, throughput, service, and time to results.

Our QSight triple quad LC/MS/MS family has always been known for its robust and reliable performance. But now there’s something new – something better: the high performance 400 series. Our ready-to-implement solution has the highest sensitivity and throughput the industry has ever seen and the capability to test for the most challenging samples and analytes.

Whether you’re a lab manager or a bench chemist, you know firsthand how things are changing quickly in food and environmental analysis. And your lab needs to change to keep pace.

Today’s advanced and increasingly diverse chromatography laboratories are facing new challenges on a daily basis – starting from raw materials right up to the finished product. Our comprehensive portfolio of analytical solutions is designed to give you the higher accuracy, sensitivity, and ease of use your laboratory demands for examining with confidence, the purity, composition, and performance of your compounds. What’s more, a range of complementary services is available to keep your laboratory up and running, meeting the stringent requirements of a variety of environments and working practices.

Trust the consumables engineered for your instruments.

Whatever your separation challenge, your choice of liquid chromatography (LC) column can make all the difference. Our Quasar portfolio of LC columns combined with the improved work? Workflow and usability of the LC 300 system allows you to achieve rugged and reproducible results. Now, with the purchase of an LC 300 system, you can pick out a Quasar LC column free of charge. Learn more below.

Our QSight triple quad LC/MS/MS family has always been known for its robust and reliable performance. But now there’s something new – something better: the high performance 400 series.

The Polymer Market consists of a huge diversity of manufacturers of industrial products running many different processes yet still facing similar challenges. There is more and more pressure to achieve high product quality and reduce costs in order to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Our modular Simplicity 3Q™ software is ideal for acquiring, quantifying and reporting

Lab reequirements for QSight triple quad LC/MS/MS systems, including storage, suppleis, space, electrical, power, gas supply requirements

Simulation using sophisticated modeling techniques has become a powerful tool for mass spectrometry

Ion Transmission Through a Quadrupole Ion Guide Under the Combined Influence of Viscous Flow and RF

Theoretical Studies of Swirling Flow and Heating Methods on Droplet Evaporation in a Heated Coaxial