QSight Triple Quad 400 Series

Veterinary drugs are used in animal production to treat diseases, prevent infection and protect growth of animals, which helps provide quality marketplace. However the uncontrolled use may cause heavy human disease so regulatory agencies around the world have established maximum residue levels (MRLs) or tolerances of veterinary drugs in foods. Drug analysis is generally challenging, due to the complexity of sample matrices and diversity of analytes from various classes of chemical properties. In this study, a fast, sensitive and selective method has been developed for analysis of 73 veterinary drugs (covering 13 different chemical classes) in chicken samples by coupling solvent extraction method with LC/MS/MS.

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%.

Acrylamide is a probable carcinogen organic compound that is found in some foods that are cooked at elevated temperatures. It’s origins are due to the condensation of the amino acid asparagine and glucose as part of Maillard reaction. In 2002, Acrylamide was found to be present in french fries and baked bread. This compound has now also been found in some other food stuff like coffee, black olives, dried pears, and peanuts. As a result the and World Health Organizations have promptly limited its presence for human consumption.

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.

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.

Mycotoxins produced by fungi as toxic secondary metabolites, leave grains, maize and cereals particularly vulnerable. With this in mind, and considering that an estimated 25% of all crops show some signs of mycotoxin contamination, many countries have established regulatory guidelines for maximum mycotoxin limits in not only feed and grain, but also in processed food products.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made carbon-chain based compounds that have been widely used in commercial and industrial products such as fire-fighting foams, water proofing treatments for clothing and furniture, nonstick cookware, and paper. PFAS’ are thermally and chemically stable, and resistant to degradation, making them ideal for many applications, but also allows the chemicals to bioaccumulate in the environment, leading to a designation as a contaminant of concern to human health and wildlife.

US EPA promulgated SW-846 Method 8327 for the analysis of PFAS in four non-potable aqueous matrices using external standard calibration and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). In this application note, a fast and robust method for the analysis of all analytes listed in EPA Method 8327 is presented, using a PerkinElmer QSight^® LX50 ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) system coupled with the PerkinElmer QSight 220 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

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.

Analysis of target pesticide residues in berries using a unique laminar flow UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS

In order to protect human health, regulatory agencies around the world have established maximum residue levels (MRLs) or tolerances of veterinary drugs in foods. The use of highly sensitive and selective techniques for accurate monitoring of tetracyclines based on regulatory requirements is essential to protect human health. This work presents a fast and sensitive UHPLC/MS/MS method for the quantitative analysis of tetracyclines in meat.

To increase lab productivity, QS-Works high throughput autosampler was used due to large capacity, temperature-controlled trays and robotic arms which allows unattended operation for long time. QS works also allows labs to run up to 600 samples in a sequence which improves testing labs efficiencies. The developed method showed good sensitivity, linearity, recovery, precision and selectivity required for analysis of tetracyclines in meat at low tolerance levels set by different regulatory bodies in the world.

Water-soluble vitamins (WSV), comprised primarily of the vitamin B complex, are essential ingredients in many foods, particularly in infant formulas. When analyzing fortified foods, this can be particularly challenging due to the wide range in concentration of vitamins, in keeping with daily allowances. This application note presents a LC-MS/MS method for the efficient, routine and robust chromatographic analysis of B-vitamins in infant formula. Eight water soluble vitamins over a wide concentration range were identified and quantified in under four minutes. The results showed excellent retention time repeatability and the method was able to detect vitamin B12 at 0.5 ppb, well below the expected level of ~2 ppb in infant formulas.

Fipronil is a broad-spectrum phenylpyrazole insecticide almost used to protect corps from insects but also to treat lice and ticks in chickens. The U.S. EPA classified fipronil as Group C, possible human carcinogen, therefore International organizations defined admissible limits for the fipronil usage which in egg is of 5 µg/L4. LC-MS/MS technology can provide a robust and reliable method to detect such a contaminant in food.

Aflatoxin B1 is often found in animal feeds such as corn, cottonseed cake, groundnut meal, and other agricultural commodities. When these contaminated feeds are ingested by milk-producing animals, such as cattle, aflatoxin B1 can be converted to aflatoxin M1 (a hydroxy derivate of aflatoxin B1) by oxidation metabolism, and then excreted in milk. To protect consumers from the potential toxicity and carcinogenicity of aflatoxin M1, regulatory agencies have established regulatory limits or action levels for aflatoxin M1 in milk products.

In this study, a simple, fast, selective and sensitive LC/MS/MS method for the analysis of aflatoxin M1 is presented, along with the evaluation of three sample preparation methods.

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.

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.

Haloacetic acids (HAAs) are a class of undesired by-products resulting from the reaction of chlorinated disinfectants with natural organic matter in water, Which is known to be carcinogenic. The Japan Ministry of Health revised the inspection method for HAAs, which led to expansion of the analytical technique to include LC/MS/MS) as an alternative to the GC-MS method.

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

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

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.

Feed milling today is a complex business, and agribusinesses both large and small need to balance the nutritional and safety needs of livestock with availability of raw ingredients and their seasonality and variability. Add to that the valuable supplementation and medication that millers supply, and it’s clear: you’re creating a complete nutritional delivery system, not just a simple mix of grains.

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.

Pesticides can adversely affect human health through the food we consume but can also leach into soil and groundwater and impact us through the environment. To keep up with a complex and constantly changing regulatory environment, your pesticide analysis solution needs to keep up with your burgeoning sample load.

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

Product Certificate for the QSight 300/400 Series

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