For as long as PFAS persist in the environment, there is no doubt they will persist in our conversations as environmental scientists. Globally, PFAS contamination has been detected in water supplies, soil and even in the blood of people and wildlife. Different countries are at various stages of addressing PFAS contamination and many governments have set regulatory limits and are working on assessing the extent of contamination, cleaning up affected sites and researching safer alternatives.
Tags
PFAS testing: 2024 in review and what to expect for 2025
For as long as PFAS persist in the environment, there is no doubt they will persist in our conversations as environmental scientists. Globally, PFAS contamination has been detected in water supplies, soil and even in the blood of people and wildlife. Different countries are at various stages of addressing PFAS contamination and many governments have set regulatory limits and are working on assessing the extent of contamination, cleaning up affected sites and researching safer alternatives.
Inside the box: Acoustic ejection mass spectrometry for drug discovery
On average, it takes 10-15 years and 1-2 billion dollars to approve a new pharmaceutical for clinical use. Since approximately 90% of new drug candidates fail in clinical development, the ability to make early, informed and accurate decisions on the safety and efficacy of new hits and leads is key to increasing the chances of success.
Unveiling the power of ZT Scan DIA: Insights from Ludwig Sinn’s presentation at World HUPO Congress 2024
In a recent presentation at the World HUPO Congress 2024, Ludwig Sinn from the Ralser lab shared exciting advancements in proteomics research, focusing on the innovative ZT Scan DIA acquisition modes developed in collaboration with SCIEX. Let us explore the key highlights and benefits of this innovative technology.
Exploring the power of ZT Scan DIA
In a recent presentation, Tim Heymann from Mann Lab at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry shared his first impressions of ZT Scan DIA, the novel data-independent acquisition strategy from SCIEX, highlighting its innovative approach and significant benefits for proteomics research. Let’s dive into the key points from his insightful talk.
Inside the box: Complementary fragmentation with LC-MS for Metabolite Identification
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is commonly used for Met ID but confident soft spot identification is not always possible. Imagine the advantage of unambiguous metabolite identification using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) reducing the need for additional safety testing during drug discovery. Quickly and easily generate the information you need using routine assays that are robust and efficient, enabling confident decision-making while also saving time and money.
Tips and tricks from our application experts: AAV analysis with CE
Peter Holper, Staff Applications Scientist at SCIEX, US, shares his tips and tricks on AAV analysis using CE with the BioPhase 8800 system and the PA 800 Plus system.
Understanding PFAS and its impact on U.S. drinking water
In recent years, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” have become a growing topic of interest due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. These synthetic compounds have been widely used in various industrial applications and consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS can be found in the air, soil, and water, and studies have shown that most people have detectable levels of PFAS in their bloodstream. One of the main exposure pathways for humans is through drinking water, particularly in communities located near industrial sites, military bases, or areas where firefighting foam has been used.
Methods for OPI electrode cleaning for Echo® MS system electrodes
Depending on the samples you are running on the system, it is possible for the Open Port Interface (OPI) electrode to become dirty or occluded over time. Below are two different cleaning strategies that can help you maintain your Echo® MS system and keep your OPI...
Using Scheduled Ionization to reduce system ion load for proteomics data acquisition
When analyzing highly complex samples from biological matrices, there can be significant amounts of material that elute in the wash cycle of the LC run, depending on the up-front sample preparation used. The Scheduled Ionization mode, available in both SCIEX OS...
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.
PFAS testing: solid phase extraction vs. direct injection methods
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Defense (DoD) methods for testing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water require using solid phase extraction (SPE). SPE has been used extensively in environmental contaminant analysis both for concentrating large sample volumes (improving method sensitivity) and removing matrix interferences (sample cleanup).
sMRM Pro Builder template tutorial
The sMRM Pro Builder template is an Excel-based tool that can help you implement large panels of analytes in your lab. The Excel sheet will take your preliminary experimental results and compute retention times, retention time window widths and dwell time weighting to optimize your targeted assay.
Short-chain PFAS compounds are on the rise- Craig’s PFAS Vodcast Cora Young
Read time: 2 minutes Short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasing in the Canadian Arctic environment, with the most rapid increases occurring post-2000, according to a recent study in Geophysical Research Letters (April 2020). For example,...
Adapting a SCIEX high flow source for microflow LC
To set up a SCIEX high flow source for microflow LC (Turbo V ion source, DuoSpray source or IonDrive Turbo V ion source), first you must replace the wider bore electrodes with more narrow bore hybrid electrodes. Note with the OptiFlow Turbo V ion sources, there are...
Is it raining PFAS?
It certainly is in the Great Lakes. According to raw data from the US EPA-Canada Great Lakes monitoring program, there has been a growing prevalence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in rainwater in the Great Lakes basin.
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...
Tips to maximize electrode lifetime for Echo MS system
While it’s easy to think of the Echo® MS system as an ultrafast LC system in front of the SCIEX Triple Quad 6500+ mass spectrometer, the system operates on fundamentally different principles. For this reason, it requires different routine maintenance to keep it...
Echo MS system maintenance operations
The Echo® MS system is a robust platform, and like any other platform, requires some routine maintenance on a regular basis. Here are 3 maintenance steps that can help you ensure consistent, reliable performance: Immediately before use or after switching carrier...
Standard front-end cleaning for TripleTOF systems
General points: Use of laboratory deionized (DI) water is specified at points in the procedure. However, if there are any concerns regarding quality, please utilize a reputable supplier of pure deionized water (>18.2M ohm). 5-10 liters will typically be required...
Understanding MS1 Peak Intensity in ProteinPilot software
The “Intensity (Peptide)” values come from LCMSReconstruct, in ProteinPilot software 5.0. It maps the RT, m/z, intensity MS1 surface to find the peak information for the peptide. The Intensity (Peptide) is a weighted sum of the heights of the isotope series at the...
The risky business of aflatoxins in milk
If you’re in the dairy or food testing business, you know the threat aflatoxins pose. Aflatoxins are a type of mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus parasiticus, aspergillus flavus , and rarely aspergillus nomius.1 These are likely the most extensively researched group of mycotoxins because of their adverse health effects.2 What’s more, they are widely found in a variety of crops, namely maize, tree nuts, and spices. Believed to be primarily caused by rising temperatures and humidity, these naturally occurring fungi grow on crops in the field, or during storage of feed and raw materials, where they can potentially produce toxins that enter the food chain.
Top questions about the exposome of PFAS revealed
According to the CDC, the exposome is “the measure of all the exposures of an individual in a lifetime and how those exposures relate to health.”
Breaking down the SCIEX Triple Quad™ 7500 LC-MS/MS System – QTRAP® Ready
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...
Using mass spectrometry to identify and quantify contaminants in water samples
Access to clean wholesome water is a basic human right. Humans have engineered incredible methods to collect, filter, purify, store and distribute water to billions of people worldwide, but does this mean that our water is completely safe to drink? Also, how do concentrations of water contaminants differ from source to source?
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