In a recent webinar, Ming Gao, Ph.D., Senior Research Chemist at Mérieux NutriSciences, explored the growing challenge of cereulide contamination in food products and the analytical strategies needed to detect this heat-stable toxin at trace levels. The session examined how LC-MS/MS can help laboratories overcome the limitations of traditional microbiological screening and meet emerging regulatory requirements.
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Sterile but toxic: Cereulide detection in food matrices
In a recent webinar, Ming Gao, Ph.D., Senior Research Chemist at Mérieux NutriSciences, explored the growing challenge of cereulide contamination in food products and the analytical strategies needed to detect this heat-stable toxin at trace levels. The session examined how LC-MS/MS can help laboratories overcome the limitations of traditional microbiological screening and meet emerging regulatory requirements.
Overcoming uncertainty in your PFAS analysis
Just like gum on the bottom of a shoe, the existence of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in our environment is a sticky one. If you’re in the field of environmental testing, then you’re all too familiar with the threat these substances have on public health. While we have learned a lot about them over the years, there is still much more to understand. With the right detection methods, we can gather the information we need to empower us to make informed decisions on reducing the risks they impose.
Questions and answers to help improve your mycotoxin analysis
During a recent webinar I shared method details for mycotoxin analysis on the SCIEX 7500 system. In this blog i will share the Q&A for the submitted questions that we did not have chance to answer during the live webinar.
Relative migration time
How do I set up my processing method to calculate the RRT of the main peak to 10kD in karat 32 software?
Assess the performance of the Echo® MS system
To obtain the best, most reproducible results using the Echo MS system, it is important to select the best solvent for your analyte and matrix and to ensure the flow rate is optimized for your solvent. Please review this flow rate optimization community post to...
Back to the new basics: Part 1 | Making the leap from GC-MS to LC-MS
Producing accurate results quickly in a demanding environment is no easy feat for analytical scientists. What’s more, many of us are constantly questioning ourselves—I certainly am—about whether we are employing the best technique for the analysis at hand.
It’s an overwhelming thought, considering the wide range of tools that are available to choose from, each of which offers varying levels of capacity, sensitivity, selectivity, specificity and cost. How do you meet the unique needs of your organization without breaking the bank? I get it, and I’m not here to convince you it’s easy. My aim is to guide you through the process to help you make the right decision for you.
Switching between different LCs that communicate through ethernet and setting up the correct module IP address
Different LC options are supported in SCIEX OS software and Analyst software. Those that communicate through ethernet differ in their default IP addresses. In this community post, we will detail the LAN setup, configuring the IP address and subnet mask for LC...
MRM method transfer from a SCIEX Triple Quad or QTRAP 6500+ system to the SCIEX 7500 system
General recommendations when beginning method development Objective: The purpose of this document is to provide a quick reference for transferring MRM-based quantification methods from a SCIEX Triple Quad or QTRAP 6500+ system to a SCIEX 7500 system. While the best...
Identifying the unknown PFAS profile in firefighting foams/AFFF
According to a recent study from Harvard University, the US EPA, and NIEHS, traditional targeted analysis techniques poorly characterize the PFAS composition of contemporary PFAS-based firefighting foams, know as aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF). Using the EPA 533 PFAS drinking water method for the analyte list, the researchers found that targeted mass spectrometry methods accounted for <1% of organic fluorine content. This is important because it demonstrates that targeted analysis methods miss nearly all the PFAS compounds in modern AFFF mixtures, thus underestimating the risk to human health and the environment.
High level method optimization considerations for Echo MS system
While an in-depth discussion of method development and optimization for the Echo® MS system is beyond the scope of a community post, here are some points to consider as part of the process: The maximum recommended ion spray voltage for prolonged electrode life is 5000...
sMRM Concurrency Calculator
This excel sheet allows you to quickly estimate the MRM concurrency and approximate dwell time for your Scheduled MRM Algorithm acquisition method. Paste your MRM method with retention times into the input tab then calculate the Excel workbook. Plots will update to...
Controlling the M5 MicroLC system with SCIEX OS software using contact closure
Contact closure can be used to control external devices that are not directly controlled by SCIEX OS software. A sample batch is first created in the SCIEX OS software for MS acquisition, and then a similar batch is created on an external LC device with the required...
Breaking down the SCIEX 7500 system
Sensitivity and robustness carry different meanings in the world of mass spectrometry. Generally, sensitivity refers to an instrument’s ability to achieve lower limits of detection (LOD). Robustness, on the other hand, refers to an instrument’s ability to consistently...
Importing acquisition methods from Analyst software to SCIEX OS software
The SCIEX Triple Quad 7500 system is the first nominal mass instrument to be released completely on SCIEX OS software. Moving to a new software solution can be time consuming with the need to transfer numerous methods to the new platform. SCIEX OS software helps...
The top 5 questions to ask when investing in accurate mass technology for forensic toxicology workflows
Are you considering the purchase of a high-resolution accurate mass (HRAM) instrument for your forensic toxicology lab? To help ensure you invest in a solution that ideally meets your needs, ask yourself the following key questions. 1. How do I ensure my results...
A rising star in food allergen research: proteomics of shellfish allergen
It’s important to know what you’re eating, especially if you suffer from a food allergy.
About 220 million people worldwide live with a food allergy.1 These numbers, along with the complexity and severity of conditions, continue to rise. In America, there are about 32 million food allergy sufferers—5.6 million of those are children under the age of 18.2.2 That’s 1 out of every 13 children, or about 2 in every classroom. From a financial perspective, the cost of food allergy childcare for US families is up to $25 billion
Calling SCIEX Software Users: Windows 10 Support for all SCIEX Software
As a researcher in a busy lab, the software driving your work is critical to your success, and the timely transition of SCIEX applications to Windows 10 is no exception. In early 2020 Microsoft will be ending Windows 7 support, and we want you to know we are taking...
Detect the Signal, Not the Noise
Improving the specificity and selectivity of your assay Your LC-MS assay is only as good as its power to discern your target compound from everything else. Standards dissolved in clean solvents can make beautiful assays, but analytes in real-world samples can behave...
Software Licensing Comparison: Subscription or Perpetual?
Are you confused by software licensing? Do you want to know the difference between a subscription and a perpetual license? In this blog, we compare both options and explain the value of each choice for your laboratory. Years ago, the perpetual license model was the...
Make the Leap from GC to LC-MS/MS
Choosing the best technique for your analysis can be tough. Should you go with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)? That’s the key question. That’s why we’re here to help. The Limitations of...
Sensitivity, It’s at the Very Heart of Who We Are
Walk into any modern pharmaceutical company these days, and you’ll likely find at least one if not many, SCIEX LC-MS/MS instruments. Assays for the detection and quantitation of small molecule drugs, metabolites, biotherapeutics, biomarkers, and many other analytes...
Uncovering the Links Between Childhood Growth, Body Size, and a Woman’s Risk of Breast Cancer
Welcome to the second in a series of posts marking International Women’s Day, and our ongoing support of World Cancer Research Fund. This installment is a review by Dr. Jennifer Baker, of her work, that, with the help of a WCRF grant, is studying body size and its links to breast cancer. Dr. Baker, Lead Investigator at Denmark’s Frederiksberg Hospital, has a Ph.D. in Human Nutrition from Cornell University. Her research focuses on clinical epidemiology.
A Multi-Omics Database for Tomato Research and Breeding
Ace. Beefsteak. Big Boy. Kumato. Early Girl. Roma. Sun Gold. San Marzano. These are just a few of the thousands of varieties of tomato plants available today. And while all of these varieties may be very different with respect to crop yield, disease resistance,...
Pathway to Success: Young Metabolomics Researchers Named in The Analytical Scientist’s Power List
The direct correlation of the metabolome to the phenotype means metabolomics is one of the most sought-after approaches for the study of disease and wellness, yet the separation, detection, quantification, and unambiguous identification of a chemically diverse...
Metabolomics Studies Benefit Biomedical Research
Professor Dr. Thomas Hankemeier, Head of the Division of Systems Biomedicine and Pharmacology, LACDRLACDR is a center of excellence for multidisciplinary research into drug discovery and development, with a strong focus on metabolomics. As part of its research...
Maximize the use of your software. Buy only what you need
The latest releases of Analyst Software 1.7 and SCIEX OS Software 1.4 introduce a new licensing model called concurrent licensing. If you want flexibility and cost savings when purchasing and using your processing software, concurrent licensing is for you. How does...
3 Reasons to Upgrade to Analyst Software 1.7
Would you be surprised to know that the SCIEX QTRAP® and Triple Quad™ mass spectrometry systems are ideally suited to meet the needs of any lab? Even more so as new orders will ship with our flagship Analyst® Software 1.7. The software is the single LC-MS/MS software,...
On Demand Videos from the 2017 Global CESI-MS Symposium
The 2017 Global CESI-MS Symposium brought together KOLs and industry innovators from around the world to share their latest advancements using capillary electrophoresis integrated with electrospray ionization (CESI-MS) within the same device.
Why Microflow HILIC Chromatography for Targeted Metabolomics Applications?
I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Baljit Ubhi to discuss the top questions you’re asking in regards to using Microflow HILIIC Chromatography for Targeted Metabolomics. Here’s what Bal said:
Discover The Benefits of Knowledge Base Articles
Did you know you can access Knowledge Base Articles for trending user questions compiled and answered by SCIEX support experts? Doing so may help to reduce your support calls, not to mention downtime. Instead of waiting for a problem to occur, you can stay on top of it, and be a part of the solution. To give you an idea of trending articles, consider the how this past month saw questions and answers including: