GEN-MKT-18-7897-A
Jan 25, 2017 | Blogs, Food / Beverage | 0 comments
Visit our offices on any given day, and you are likely to discover researchers putting mass spectrometry to the test. The hum of the mass spectrometer is as common as conversations as scientists are tasked with developing methods that can be applied in real-world lab scenarios. In this case, André Schreiber SCIEX, Concord, Ontario, Canada, detailed, Comprehensive Quantitation and Identification of Pesticides in Food Samples Using the SCIEX UltraLC 100* and the SCIEX QTRAP® 4500 System. Applying a combination of LC-MS/MS technology, Schreiber demonstrates how it is possible to detect hundreds of pesticides and other food residues in a single run as demands in the food testing industry to detect and quantify an increasing number of compounds in a single run become more prevalent.
Liquid Chromatography coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a widely used analytical tool for the screening of food residues and contaminants. This technical note presents a new method using QuEChERS extraction, separation using the UltraLC 100 system with a Phenomenex Synergi™ 2.5u FusionRP column, and the SCIEX QTRAP 4500 System. The mass spectrometer was operated in highly selective and sensitive Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode. The Scheduled MRM™ algorithm was used to obtain the best data quality and combined with fast polarity switching to cover the broadest range of pesticides possible. Also, MS/MS spectra were acquired to enable compound identification with the highest confidence based on mass spectral library matching.
Download the eBook to see full LC-MS/MS method details utilizing the UltraLC 100 and the QTRAP 4500 System using the Scheduled MRM algorithm in combination with fast polarity switching, and acquisition of MS/MS spectra for compound identification.Pesticides—The Good and BadFarmers aim to apply an appropriate level of pesticides with acceptable residuals and do so discriminately as government and manufacturers of pesticides educate them as to how to minimize their use. However, “sometimes farmers add too much, which does leave a residue,” said Phil Taylor Global Marketing Manager, Food, Environmental, and Forensics. “Therefore, we test for remnants even though during harvest, farmers wash the fruit and vegetables.”
Should the general consumer be worried about getting sick from consuming fruit and vegetables as some studies have indicated that health problems can arise with long-term ingestion of high levels of pesticides? The answer depends. World governments have placed Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) on pesticides in fruits and vegetables. Food testing labs, and perhaps you are one of them, are thus charged with testing foods to ensure that fruits with levels higher than the MRLs do not make it to your table. The safest way to avoid such problems said Taylor, “is to eat organic foods or wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly whenever possible before eating or cooking them.”
*Looking for an HPLC or UHPLC system? Learn more about the ExionLC Series >
In biopharmaceutical development, sequence variants (SV) are considered an inherent risk of producing complex proteins in living systems. Sequence variants are unintended changes to the amino acid sequence of a biotherapeutic and can be caused by errors in transcription or translation in the host cell, or cell culture and process conditions. Detailed analysis of SVs is important in process and product development to ensure the drug’s safety and efficacy. Even low‑level sequence variants can have significant implications for product quality, safety, and efficacy, making their accurate detection and characterization a critical requirement across development, process optimization, and regulatory submission.
CE‑SDS remains a cornerstone assay for characterizing fragmentation, aggregation, and product‑related impurities in therapeutic proteins. UV detection has been the long‑standing standard. However, it frequently struggles with baseline noise, limited sensitivity for minor fragments, and subjective integration.
At SCIEX, innovation doesn’t stop at instruments; it extends to how you interact with your LC-MS/MS or CE systems every day. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the SCIEX Now spring 2026 improvements: a set of meaningful enhancements shaped directly by your feedback.
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