Kirsten Craven

Choosing the right LC-MS system for bioanalysis: Let’s make it easier

Dec 23, 2025 | Blogs, Pharma, QTRAP / Triple Quad | 0 comments

Read time: 3 minutes

Investing in a new liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system is a big decision, especially when your lab handles a wide variety of analytical tasks. With so many options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

That’s where this blog comes in. We’ll walk you through the bioanalytical quantitation solutions offered by SCIEX, helping you better understand which system might be the best fit for your current needs and future ambitions.

SCIEX doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach. There are several LC-MS systems, each with its own strengths. So, whether you’re focused on today’s workflows or planning for tomorrow’s challenges, there’s a solution that aligns with your goals.

Let’s dig into this in more detail because life is never this simple.

Routine bioanalysis

When it comes to bioanalysis, SCIEX has been a trusted name in quadrupole mass spectrometry for as long as most of us can remember. But it’s not just about the hardware. We’re proud of the reliability, support, and innovation that come with every LC-MS system we offer.

All our instruments run on SCIEX OS software, a powerful yet intuitive platform designed to simplify your workflow. Whether you’re working in a regulated environment or not, using compliance-ready software from the start can be a smart move. It helps streamline method development and makes future transitions into regulated bioanalytical spaces smoother and faster.

Here is an example of the performance you can expect from the system, Highly sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of fluticasone propionate in human plasma using the SCIEX QTRAP 6500 System

Routine bioanalysis requiring higher sensitivity

As technology has developed, mass spectrometers have become more sensitive and what was considered a nice-to-have feature is now often essential. If you need to see trace-level analytes or your matrices are very complex, the 7500+ system is the better option for you.

Curious to see examples of what the 7500+ system can do?

Sensitive quantitation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog in rat plasma

Comprehensive LC-MS workflows for antibody drug conjugate (ADC) analysis

Flexible Quant/Qual system, more selectivity, or larger analytes

In the last 5 years, improvements in the quantitative performance and sensitivity of time-of-flight (TOF) technology has made it more attractive to bioanalysis labs. The ability to offer both quantitation and qualitative information on a single system makes life easier. Also, as drug modalities have changed and test compounds have become larger, they have exceeded the mass range of quadrupole systems making a TOF essential.

Additional benefits of a TOF are increased selectivity allowing low-level analytes to be distinguished from complex matrices. This can allow for shorter run times and reduced sample preparation.

Discover more about how the ZenoTOF 7600 could help in your lab, here:

Sensitive quantification of insulin lispro using accurate mass spectrometry (sciex.com)

High resolution LC-MS/MS solution for improved quantitation of peptides in a complex matrix

For more information on the options SCIEX has for bioanalysis please speak to your account manager or this technology pack may be of interest to you, New Frontiers in Bioanalysis.

Why not join the Mass spec bioanalysis community on LinkedIn?

The community offers the opportunity to:

Connect with experts and peers in the field
Share and discuss the latest approaches and methodologies
Post your job adverts and look for new positions to forward your career in bioanalysis
Stay updated on industry trends, events, and conferences

Follow the link to join, here

Why SCIEX partners with experts around the world

Innovation in mass spectrometry does not happen in isolation. Some of the most impactful scientific advances emerge from highly specialized research communities – proteomics experts developing new peptide identification workflows, metabolomics researchers curating spectral databases, toxicologists building compound libraries, and biopharma scientists creating novel characterization methods.

Managing ADC characterization: The challenge of turning complexity into confidence

Unlike traditional monoclonal antibodies, ADCs combine an antibody backbone with linker chemistry and a cytotoxic payload. This multi-component architecture introduces overlapping layers of heterogeneity, including drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) distributions, charge variants, post-translational modifications, and structural changes at both the intact and subunit levels. Across ADC development, these characteristics are considered critical quality attributes that must be characterized, understood, and monitored.

3 reasons ZT Scan DIA is changing the game in metabolomics

For years, metabolomics researchers have faced a frustrating reality: modern high-resolution mass spectrometers can detect tens of thousands of molecular features, yet only a fraction can be confidently identified. The challenge is no longer finding molecules. It is generating the high-quality MS/MS data needed to confidently assign structures and extract meaningful biological insights.

Posted by

Kirsten Craven

Kirsten Craven is the Senior Global Marketing Manager for Pharma global strategic marketing at SCIEX. In this role, she manages strategic marketing for the pharmaceutical industry. Kirsten spent the first part of her career working in laboratories across multiple industries before moving into product management, and most recently pharma marketing.

0 Comments