Jan. 30, 2013 -- Tandem Labs is pleased to launch 2013 with the installation of two AB SCIEX QTRAP® 6500 systems.
This is a significant advancement that allows Tandem Labs to offer clients one of the most sensitive and advanced LC/MS/MS systems available in the industry.
"With the new AB SCIEX QTRAP® 6500 systems, we now offer our clients one of the most sensitive triple quads on the market with the added benefit of an extremely sensitive linear ion trap," said Jim Wilfahrt, Vice President and General Manager of Tandem Labs. "With these instruments, combined with our automated sample preparation and experienced method development team, we can meet increasing demands for lower detection limits while providing faster and more responsive service to our sponsors."
The AB SCIEX QTRAP® 6500 system, produced and sold by AB SCIEX (www.absciex.com), uses a revolutionary new multi-component IonDrive™ technology that merges highly evolved sensitivity with proven performance. To improve sensitivity, the patented IonDrive technology increases the quantity of ions produced while enhancing the way ions are transmitted and detected.
Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) is a widely used laboratory technique for measuring pharmaceutical compounds and metabolites in complex biomatrices. Contract research organizations specializing in bioanalysis routinely use LC/MS/MS to support drug development and clinical research trials. Increasingly, researchers require lower and lower quantitation limits for these target molecules. The AB SCIEX QTRAP® 6500 system is even more sensitive than the API 5500™ system, which has been recognized as the industry leader for low-level detection of small molecules, and can provide a 5-10x increase in sensitivity while providing six orders of magnitude linear dynamic range.
"The AB SCIEX 6500 series represents a new paradigm in mass spectrometry quantitation," said Joe Fox, Senior Director of AB SCIEX's Pharma Business Unit. "The QTRAP® 6500 system is next-generation mass spectrometry instrumentation that delivers up to a 10x increase in sensitivity over the best-selling, high-performance triple quadrupole system on the market. The 6500 is designed for scientists who need to push the limits in quantitation in complex matrices while maintaining reproducibility and robustness."
The AB SCIEX QTRAP® 6500 combined with the Waters Acquity UPLC will also simplify method development for challenging low level assays. The systems will provide comprehensive peptide sequence confirmation and simplified MRM assay development for peptide quantitation. The MRM-triggered full scan capability will enable relative quantitation of peptides without using reference standards for large molecule applications.
The new instruments join Tandem's close to 50 existing LC/MS/MS systems and seven Hamilton liquid handling workstations to offer clients an even more robust and comprehensive bioanalytical service package. This investment demonstrates Tandem's continued commitment to cutting-edge technology and lab automation.