QSight® 500 LC/MS/MS System
Built for the toughest matrices
Labs analyzing food, environmental, forensic and pharmaceutical samples need a liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) system that keeps delivering reliable results on complex matrices, without the duplicated sample prep and downtime that come from running multiple systems. The triple-quadrupole QSight® 500 LC/MS/MS System is built for exactly that.
Its dual-source configuration collects data in two complementary modes, ESI and APCI, maximizing the output from a single injection. With StayClean™ technology, source cleaning and maintenance are dramatically reduced, which supports higher productivity and ROI. Simplicity™ 3Q software streamlines the complete workflow, from validated method development to data reporting.
19,100+
matrix injections without sensitivity loss
EPA 1633
consumables verified to method
2–4×
signal intensity with the EDIT probe vs. ESI
1,000,000:1
ESI signal-to-noise, positive and negative mode
QSight 500 liquid chromatography mass spectrometry for complex, high-matrix samples
Built for sludge, grease, and the nastiest matrices you can throw its way.
With unmatched robustness and minimal sample prep, the QSight® 500 LC/MS/MS System transforms even the most challenging samples into clean, reliable, and actionable data. Powered by StayClean™ Technology, it has greater resilience to internal contamination, allowing simplified sample prep and reducing downtime so you can optimize resources and maximize lab throughput.
Inside the QSight 500 LC/MS/MS system
Four technologies, each built to deliver one or more of these benefits:
EDIT Probe
The EDIT probe (Enhanced Desolvation and Ion Transport) runs both ESI and APCI from a single probe and ships standard with every QSight 500. Co-axial heating and an axial tip guide ions toward the inlet, so you get more signal with less tuning.
- 2 to 4× higher intensity than ESI
- A large optimization "sweet spot", with much less sensitivity to probe position
- Better droplet desolvation at high LC flows
HSID Inlet with StayClean™
The heated HSID inlet is the core of StayClean technology. The entire inlet block is heated and a continuous flow of hot gas carries ions through, so contaminants don't build up in the ion path.
- Hot gas acts as a constant cleaning agent, keeping the ion path clean through long matrix sequences
- Entirely flow dominant, with no axial electric fields and no optimization required
- Source cleaning takes minutes, needs no tools for access and does not require breaking vacuum
Laminar Flow Ion Guide
Gas flow, rather than electric fields, moves ions through the ion guide. The result is excellent signal stability with minimal optimization.
- Flow-induced transmission gives stable, reproducible response across long sequences
- Minimal optimization, so less time spent tuning
- Pairs with the flow-dominant HSID inlet, so the ion path is built around gas flow from inlet to detector
UniField™ Detector
The UniField detector switches polarity fast, so positive and negative ions are captured in the same run without slowing the method down.
- Fast polarity switching in a single run
- Higher sample throughput, so more samples per day
- Works with the dual source to give wide analyte coverage from one injection
Gain more days of uptime
Built to keep running, so more of your time goes to results and less to cleaning.
Matrix-induced contamination leads to sensitivity loss, then cleaning, then downtime. For a high-throughput lab, what matters is how many matrix injections a system completes before performance drops.
In a continuous matrix-injection study, the QSight 500 was still producing stable, normalized peak areas after 19,100 injections, when the analysis was still running. Two other industry systems in the same study had already stopped.
Matrix injections completed before sensitivity loss
2.7×
longer than the longer-running other industry system in the study
QSight 500 figure as of publication, February 2025. The analysis was still running, so the bar is open-ended. Other industry system endpoints are approximate and read from the study chart in the QSight 500 brochure, which marks where each system stopped without printing exact values.
Simplicity™ 3Q software
Intuitive software that guides the full LC/MS/MS workflow, from validated method development to data reporting.
1. Method development
2. Acquisition and monitoring
3. Data reporting
EDIT probe support
Run the EDIT probe in ESI or APCI mode directly from the software.
M1RF ramping
Additional compound optimization for improved sensitivity.
Maintenance wizards
Guided steps, including the new Source Cleaning Wizard.
Usability and monitoring
Everyday ease of use and clear instrument monitoring.
Pharma QA/QC
Built for regulated workflows
Simplicity™ 3Q supports regulated labs with 21 CFR Part 11-capable audit trails, secure user-managed access controls and compliance-ready reporting. Automated system suitability testing aligned to USP and EP expectations helps labs support GMP data lifecycle requirements.
Blend & Inject: Less sample prep. More productivity.
Tackle the toughest food matrices with minimal sample preparation and maximum efficiency. Whether dealing with fatty avocados or aqueous tomatoes, Blend & Inject transforms complex samples into clean, reliable, and actionable data, without the need for extensive extraction or cleanup.
- Minimal prep: no extensive extraction or cleanup
- Comparable to QuEChERS: comparable results with a fraction of the prep time
- Sensitivity maintained: levels far below the regulatory limits
This streamlined approach enhances throughput while maintaining sensitivity at levels far below the regulatory limits. With the robustness of QSight StayClean Technology, Blend & Inject minimizes downtime, optimizes resources, and keeps your lab running smoothly.
Resources
Unmatched Robustness for Analysis of Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances in Difficult Food Matrices
In food safety testing, instrument reliability under real-world conditions is the true test of performance. This technical note showcases the durability and consistency of the PerkinElmer QSight® 500 LC/MS/MS system through an intensive robustness study, analyzing high-matrix food samples with minimal cleanup and no loss in sensitivity.
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Simplified Blend & Inject Method for Large Panel Pesticide Analysis in Tomato using the QSight 500 LC/MS/MS System
Tomato is a moisture rich, pigment heavy matrix that makes multiresidue pesticide testing harder than it looks, and conventional QuEChERS cleanup adds real time and cost to every batch.
Learn More
Robust PFAS Determination in Animal Derived Foods Using a Blend & Inject Method With the QSight® 500 LC-MS/MS System
Per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants that can accumulate in animal‑derived foods, creating growing regulatory and public health concerns.
Learn More
Fast, Reliable Honey Authenticity Testing for 3-Methoxytyramine Analysis on the QSight 500 LC-MS/MS
This application note demonstrates a fast, sensitive, and highly robust LC‑MS/MS solution for honey authenticity testing through targeted quantification of 3‑methoxytyramine (3‑MT), a specific marker of beet‑sugar feeding.
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Reliable and Robust LC-MS/MS Workflow for Fosetyl-Al and Metabolites in Fruit Matrices
In food safety and pesticide residue testing, accurate measurement of fosetyl-Al and its metabolite phosphonic acid is essential to ensure compliance with EU Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and to protect consumer health.
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Analysis of 40 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by US EPA Method 1633
Part 1: Method Development and Verification with Quality Control Samples
In this first installment of a 4-part application note series, we detail a validated LC-MS/MS workflow for the analysis of 40 targeted PFAS compounds in water samples using PerkinElmer QSight® 500 LC/MS/MS system and an automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) platform.
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Analysis of 40 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by US EPA Method 1633
Part 2: Application to Surface Water and Wastewater Samples
PFAS contamination in surface water and wastewater is a growing global concern, prompting the need for sensitive, efficient, and EPA-compliant analytical solutions. This is Part 2 of a 4-part application note series showcasing a robust LC-MS/MS workflow aligned with US EPA Method 1633, now applied to real-world water samples.
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Analysis of 40 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by US EPA Method 1633
Part 3: Application to Sand, Soil, Sediment, Sludge, Biosolid and Other Solid Samples
From remediation sites to agricultural lands, testing PFAS in solid samples is no longer optional; it’s essential. Part 3 of this 4-part application note series details a comprehensive LC-MS/MS workflow for the analysis of 40 PFAS compounds in soil and sediment, fully aligned with US EPA Method 1633.
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Analysis of 40 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances by US EPA Method 1633
Part 4: Application to Fish and Other Animal Tissue Samples
Monitoring PFAS in biological samples like fish and animal tissue is essential for food safety and environmental risk assessment, but it presents unique challenges due to complex matrices and variable recoveries. Part 4 of this 4-part application note series demonstrates a validated sample prep and LC-MS/MS workflow tailored to meet these challenges while complying with US EPA Method 1633.
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Improved Throughput for the Analysis of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Drinking Water by EPA Method 533
Growing health concerns regarding Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their prevalence in consumer goods and the environment indicates a critical nee ...
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How TERA Environnement is Shaping the Future of PFAS Air Monitoring with the QSight LC/MS/MS
In France, TERA Environnement is breaking new ground in outdoor air analysis, using the PerkinElmer QSight® LC/MS/MS system to measure PFAS contamination with unmatched sensitivity and minimal sample prep.
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Customer LC/MS/MS Spotlight: Professor Sabra Botch-Jones
The PerkinElmer QSight LC/MS/MS is used for many applications, including forensic toxicology.
Learn MoreQSight 500 frequently asked questions
What is LC/MS/MS?
Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) separates a sample's components by liquid chromatography, then identifies and quantifies them with two stages of mass analysis. A triple quadrupole system such as the QSight 500 selects a precursor ion in the first quadrupole, fragments it in the second and measures a specific product ion in the third, giving high selectivity and sensitivity for trace contaminants in complex matrices.
What is the EDIT probe?
EDIT stands for Enhanced Desolvation and Ion Transport. It is a new ion source introduced with the QSight 500 that delivers 2–4× higher signal intensity than conventional ESI for pesticides and PFAS, and is easier to optimize because it is much less sensitive to probe position.
Can the QSight 500 run both ESI and APCI?
Yes. The QSight 500 ships with an ESI probe and an EDIT probe in its dual source. The EDIT probe can run in either ESI or APCI mode. A dedicated APCI probe is available as an option.
Is the EDIT probe compatible with earlier QSight systems?
No. The EDIT probe is designed for the QSight 500 and is not backwards compatible with previous QSight models.
How is the ion source cleaned?
The source offers tool-free access and locks into an upper position so the curtain cap and plenum chamber can be cleaned without removing it. A Source Cleaning Wizard in Simplicity 3Q software guides the process, and cleaning doesn't require breaking vacuum.
What is StayClean technology?
StayClean is the QSight's heated HSID interface. Hot laminar gas flow carries ions into the mass spectrometer while the heated surfaces stop contaminants from depositing, so the system keeps its sensitivity through long runs of dirty samples.
What sample preparation does the QSight 500 need?
Many food applications can use Blend & Inject, a simplified alternative to QuEChERS that gives comparable results with a fraction of the prep time. See the application notes above for validated matrices.
Which software runs the QSight 500?
PerkinElmer Simplicity™ 3Q software, version 4.0 or later, which includes full QSight 500 support and features for EPA PFAS methods.
Explore our LC/MS portfolio
QSight 500 LC/MS/MS System
A robust solution for environmental labs analyzing PFAS and other emerging contaminants in complex matrices.
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Speed, sensitivity, exact mass information, wide dynamic range and mass accuracy.
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