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

How SCIEX Now empowers mass spec users to work with more control, clarity and confidence

In this interview, Andy Wilcox, Senior Market Development Manager, Aftermarket and Software, speaks with Susanna Baqué, Senior Director of Global Customer Experience, about how SCIEX Now gives customers one connected digital workspace to manage instruments, reduce time spent searching for information, resolve issues faster and keep their laboratory running more efficiently and with greater confidence.

Bioanalysis across modalities: Advancing confident decisions with modern LC‑MS strategies

As therapeutic pipelines continue to diversify, bioanalysis is being asked to do more than ever before. From small molecules to complex biologics, today’s scientists must generate high‑quality, reliable data across a growing range of molecule types and workflows, often under increasing time pressure.

The rules have changed

Regulated laboratories are evolving faster than ever. New analytical modalities, higher sample throughput, increasing regulatory scrutiny, and leaner teams are reshaping how work gets done. At the same time, expectations for data integrity, standardization, and operational efficiency continue to increase complexity and/or scope. In this environment, LC-MS software is no longer simply an instrument control platform—it has become a critical part of a laboratory’s quality management system. The question is no longer whether your lab has changed, but whether your software has evolved to support the way regulated labs operate today, and if they are ready and able to meet the demands, they will face tomorrow.

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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.

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