In recent years, the spotlight on the safety of baby food has intensified, driven by growing concerns about toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. These elements, even in low concentrations, pose significant health risks to infants and toddlers, whose developing bodies are particularly vulnerable. As regulatory standards tighten, advanced analytical techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) have emerged as crucial tools in ensuring baby food meets stringent safety and nutritional benchmarks.<h4>The importance of monitoring heavy metals in baby food</h4>Heavy metals can make their way into baby food through environmental contamination, agricultural practices, or industrial processes. For instance:<ul><li>Lead can leach from soil into crops.</li><li>Arsenic is often present in rice and rice-based products due to its natural occurrence in water and soil.</li><li>Mercury can accumulate in fish and seafood.</li><li>Cadmium is introduced via contaminated soil or fertilizers.</li></ul>Even trace amounts of these metals can lead to neurological damage, developmental delays, and other long-term health issues. Regulatory bodies like the FDA and the European Union have established maximum permissible levels for these toxic elements. For example, the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021 in the U.S. mandates maximum limits such as 10 µg/kg for inorganic arsenic and 5 µg/kg for lead in baby food products.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Ensuring_Baby_Food_Safety_Tackling_Toxic_Metals_with_Advanced_Technology_275fac6f68.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Ensuring Baby Food Safety - Tackling Toxic Metals with Advanced Technology" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Ensuring_Baby_Food_Safety_Tackling_Toxic_Metals_with_Advanced_Technology_275fac6f68.jpg 239w," sizes="100vw" width="1536" height="1006"><h4>The role of ICP-MS in baby food safety</h4>To comply with these regulations, manufacturers require robust analytical methods that offer high sensitivity, precision, and reproducibility. ICP-MS, particularly when paired with advanced sample preparation techniques, has become the gold standard for detecting and quantifying both toxic and essential trace elements in baby food.<h4>A streamlined workflow</h4>A recent study showcased a comprehensive workflow using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MTX ICP-MS</a> system:<ul><li>Sample preparation: Baby food samples, ranging from dry powders to high-fat and high-moisture items, were processed using microwave-assisted acid digestion. This method ensures uniform preparation and minimizes manual handling.</li><li>Automated dilution: The system’s argon gas dilution (AGD) capability allowed for a consistent five-fold dilution of all samples, accommodating a wide variety of matrices without compromising detection sensitivity.</li><li>Interference management: By leveraging triple quadrupole modes with reactive gases, the ICP-MS effectively suppressed polyatomic and isobaric interferences, ensuring accurate results even for challenging elements like arsenic and mercury.</li><li>Quality control: Calibration curves and internal standard checks maintained accuracy throughout the analysis, with all results aligning within regulatory limits.</li></ul><h4>Key findings</h4>The study analyzed six baby food products, including fruit purees, cereal, yogurt, and fish-based meals. While most samples adhered to safety standards, certain findings highlighted areas for further attention:<ul><li>Arsenic: Elevated levels were detected in salmon-based purees, attributed to organic arsenic compounds naturally present in fish.</li><li>Cadmium and lead: Slightly elevated levels in carrot-based products underscore the need for rigorous soil testing and monitoring.</li></ul><h4>Benefits of advanced ICP-MS analysis</h4>Beyond regulatory compliance, ICP-MS offers additional advantages:<ul><li>Nutritional assessment: Simultaneous analysis of essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and zinc ensures baby food supports healthy growth.</li><li>Efficiency and productivity: The automated workflow minimizes operator intervention, making it suitable for high-throughput laboratories.</li><li>Reliability: Consistent results across diverse sample types build confidence in food safety and quality.</li></ul><h4>Conclusion</h4>Ensuring the safety of baby food is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a responsibility to protect the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society. By harnessing the power of ICP-MS, manufacturers can confidently address both safety concerns and nutritional needs, delivering products that parents can trust. As technology continues to evolve, such advancements promise a future where baby food safety is guaranteed, one analysis at a time.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/cz/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/inductively-coupled-plasma-mass-spectrometry-icp-ms/quadrupole-icp-ms-systems.html">Explore more</a>: Learn how the Thermo Scientific iCAP MTX ICP-MS system is setting new standards in trace metals analysis for food safety.

Ensuring Baby Food Safety: Tackling Toxic Metals with Advanced Technology

Reactivity and fluxes of antimony in a macrotidal estuarine salinity gradient: Insights from single and triple quadrupole ICP-MS performances

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 16, 2025

As countries across the world accelerate their efforts to move away from fossil fuels, lithium-ion batteries have rapidly become established as a key component in the drive to greener energy alternatives. But lithium is only part of the story. In this blog post, I’ll review the role that lithium and other elements play in battery technology, discuss how these elements can be quantified and assess what potential options there are for future developments in this area.<h3>Lithium ion batteries – their promise and their problems</h3>Lithium ion battery cathodes are typically made from a mixed metal oxide base to which lithium is added and, usually, nickel, cobalt and manganese oxides are used for this purpose. To maintain optimum performance and to slow degradation of cathode materials over multiple charging and discharging cycles as much as possible, these materials need to be highly purified. In particular, they must be free of metal impurities (particularly iron and vanadium) and sulphur, as these elements disrupt battery performance and accelerate degradation processes. Lithium ion batteries have become a central focus for power generation for electric vehicles and portable devices because they offer high-power storage capacity for their size and good charge/discharge cycling stability over a relatively long time period. However, there are safety concerns surrounding lithium ion batteries, as they can spontaneously ignite and subsequently explode as a result of overheating.This overheating can be caused by factors such as electrical shorting, rapid discharge, overcharging or mechanical damage, so considerable research and development in recent years has been focused on making them as safe as possible. Safety is not the only problem for batteries based on lithium. Although the price of lithium batteries has decreased significantly (by almost 90% between 2010 and 2020, according to some estimates1), since January this year, the price of lithium raw materials (primarily lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide) has been rising steadily. Lithium is not a limitless resource on Earth — it’s present at levels of only between 0.002 – 0.006 wt% in the Earth’s crust — so as demand ramps up, supply will diminish and costs will rise. The cost is not only a financial one. Mining activities will need to sharply increase if dependence on lithium is maintained, which will significantly impact the environment in areas where lithium deposits are rich enough for mining to be viable. This, however, also means that recycling and reprocessing of spent batteries will become an essential part of the lithium battery cycle.<h3>Are there alternative metal ion technologies to lithium?</h3>In the initial stages of lithium ion battery research in the 1970s and early 1980s, the potential of sodium ion batteries was also investigated.2 Sodium has the considerable benefit of being much more widely available than lithium — it’s the seventh most abundant element, with an average concentration of 2.27% by weight in the Earth’s crust — and so cheaper and more viable to extract from almost anywhere. However, it soon became clear at the time that the power density and charge/discharge cycling stability of sodium ion batteries was not as good, in part because the larger ionic radius of sodium means that the graphite anodes that are efficiently used with lithium ion batteries cannot be used with sodium batteries. As a result, sodium battery research languished for many years until, in the early 2010s, interest in this area resurged because of increasing battery demand and the discovery that hard carbon3 provided better anode performance with sodium ions. There is still a long way to go with sodium ion battery development, but promising advances are happening now. In June 2020, researchers from Washington State University (WSU) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) announced that they had developed a viable sodium ion battery4, and Stanford University is spearheading research into new sodium ion-based battery materials.5<h3>Measuring lithium and other metals involved in battery technology</h3>It’s clear that accurate determination and quantification of both the cathode metal oxide elements and trace impurities in the cathode material are of key importance for advancing and scaling up battery production, research and development. The techniques that are available for this analysis include <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products?category=251&amp;manufacturerItems=3">inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products?category=232&amp;manufacturerItems=3">inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)</a>, and recently, the applications team at Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Bremen, Germany, facility have produced an application note on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_73872_icp_oes_elements_lithium_batteries_an73872_en_691a4c3f8a.pdf">analysis of trace elements in lithium batteries</a> using the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/BRE0020758#/BRE0020758">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ PRO XP ICP-OES</a>. If you’d like to learn more about how these and other technologies that can support battery technology advancements, take a look at our batteries resources page <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/batteries">here</a>.

Is Battery Technology Just All About Lithium?

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 21st April 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you application notes by Agilent Technologies and Shimadzu and other document by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Determination of Elements in a Solid Sulfide Electrolyte using ICP-OES</h3>Analysis of next generation solid-state lithium-ion battery electrolyte chemicals by Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=5800+VDV+ICP-OES">5800 VDV ICP-OES</a><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_solid_sulfide_electrolyte_5800_icp_oes_5994_8287en_agilent_1_e13d65c6a8.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>The rapid expansion of renewable energy sources and electric mobility usage is driving interest in the next generation of energy storage technologies. Currently, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the leading storage method that is used across a wide range of applications. However, LIBs are limited by raw material availability and high costs, as well as concerns around safety. Solid-state batteries are emerging as an alternative energy storage technology. These batteries use a solid superionic material as the electrolyte instead of traditional liquid-phase electrolytes. This material, which transmits ions through a solid crystalline lattice, has the potential for high energy density compared to conventional batteries, as well as increased safety and operating temperatures.1 Li10GeP2 S12 (LGPS) is one such inorganic solid electrolyte that is currently being investigated due to its high ionic conductivity. As with traditional battery electrolytes, the quality and purity of the solid electrolyte must be high to effectively facilitate ion transport. The presence of elemental contaminants could potentially affect the regular lattice structures of the electrolyte and impact battery longevity, lifespan, and safety.2,3&nbsp;Spectroscopic techniques like Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) are widely used to determine elemental contaminants in complex materials. The technique is especially useful for the simultaneous measurement of trace elements in samples such as battery electrolytes, due to its speed, sensitivity, and tolerance to high total dissolved solids (TDS).&nbsp;Both the Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=5800+VDV+ICP-OES">5800 Vertical Dual View</a> (VDV) and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=5900+SVDV+ICP-OES+">5900 Synchronous Vertical Dual View (SVDV) ICP-OES </a>instruments have been adopted across the LIB value chain to address the varied analytical needs of the industry.4 Both instruments are ideal for labs dealing with novel materials, high numbers of samples, or aiming to make efficiency gains. In the absence of comparative methods for the analysis of LGPS, we focused on the development, optimization, and validation of the method to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results. To support this process, we utilized the following hardware and software usability features to support the workflow throughout the study:&nbsp;<ul><li>IntelliQuant Screening: The fast scan software feature was used to initially screen LGPS samples for elemental content across the entire wavelength range. The semiquantitative data provided valuable information on the identity of elements in the sample, enabled selection of appropriate analyte wavelengths, and helped establish suitable calibration ranges.&nbsp;</li><li>Early Maintenance Feedback (EMF): This software feature alerts the analyst when maintenance is required, based on a series of sensors, counters, and trackers. By maintaining optimum instrument operating conditions, unnecessary downtime is reduced, increasing the productivity of the instrument.&nbsp;</li><li>Intelligent Rinse: A feature that adjusts washout times based on the actual time it takes to wash out each element in the sample. This intelligent rinsing routine ensures that there are no carryover issues for problematic or high concentration elements.&nbsp;</li></ul>In this study, the 5800 VDV ICP-OES with an Agilent SPS 4 autosampler was used to determine 29 elements in battery grade LGPS electrolyte powder following microwave digestion. The elements included aluminum, arsenic, boron, barium, beryllium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, gallium, germanium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, lead, sulfur, antimony, silicon, strontium, titanium, vanadium, and zinc.<h4>Results and discussion</h4><h5>Calibration and linearity&nbsp;</h5>All 29 analytes were quantified using an external standard calibration method, with background correction performed by the instrument’s default and automatic Fitted Background Correction (FBC) routine. The FBC software corrects simple and complex background peaks automatically, requiring no input from the analyst. The results of the linear regression analysis of each analyte show excellent linearity across the calibration range with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.99900 to 1.00000 (Table 3). A representative spectrum and calibration curve for Cr 267.716 nm are shown in Figure 7.<h5>Long-term stability&nbsp;</h5>To assess the stability of the 5800 VDV ICP-OES, 241 solutions were measured over eight hours without recalibration. The solutions consisted of 10 LGPS solutions and a QC block, which contained a rinse, Continuing Calibration Blank (CCB), and Continuing Calibration Verification (CCV) solutions. The CCV solution contained 0.250 mg/L of all analytes except Li, Ge, P and S, which were present at 250 mg/L. The recovery of the CCV was then plotted, as shown in Figure 8. The stability of all elements were within 100 ± 5%, with no QC failures over the entire analytical run. The precision of all elements, displayed as % Relative Standard Error (%RSD) was ≤2.5%, except As, which was ≤5%. The recovery data demonstrates the robustness of the 5800 VDV ICP-OES for the analysis of solid-state electrolyte material for over eight hours.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>The Agilent 5800 VDV ICP-OES with the Agilent SPS 4 autosampler was used to quantify 29 elements in 99.9% LGPS—a solid superionic material used as an electrolyte in solid-state LIBs. The samples were prepared using microwave digestion in reverse aqua regia and then analyzed by ICP-OES. With no previous methods available for reference, the following smart tools were used during the study to simplify method development and optimize the analytical workflow, ensuring consistent high-quality results throughout the analysis:&nbsp;<ul><li>The IntelliQuant Screening method development tool was used to set an appropriate calibration range and to select the best wavelengths to use for the quantitative method.&nbsp;</li><li>Intelligent Rinse greatly reduced the analysis time by monitoring analyte intensities and rinsing for the minimum required time, while maintaining data accuracy. More than 60 minutes were saved for every 100 solutions using the intuitive rinse routine, compared to the standard 60-second rinse time per solution.&nbsp;</li><li>Early Maintenance Feedback alerted the analyst when maintenance was required based on real usage, maintaining optimum instrument performance and uptime.</li></ul>The accuracy of the method was evaluated by conducting spike recovery tests of the LGPS sample. Recoveries were within 100 ± 10% in all cases, with precision (%RSD) of most elements below 2.5%. The instrument also displayed excellent stability over the eight-hour run without failing a single QC measurement. This study demonstrates that manufacturers of solid-state battery electrolytes can reliably and accurately measure impurity elements using the 5800 VDV ICP-OES.<h3>2. Shimadzu: Multi-Element Analysis of Farmland Soil Extracts Using ICPE-9820 and a Multi-Component Extraction Method&nbsp;</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_01_00816_en_a130c8c0fc.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits:</h4><ul><li>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=ICPE-9820">ICPE-9820</a> can quickly analyze farmland soil for multiple elements simultaneously.</li><li>The multi-component extraction method can be used for accurate analysis of even high salt samples (0.2 mol/L sodium chloride).&nbsp;</li></ul>Farmland soil contains constituents essential for crop growth, and their concentrations affect both yield and quality. Soil testing uses soil analysis to determine the concentrations of these constituents and the fertilization regimen needed to achieve an optimum balance of constituentsin farmland soil.&nbsp;Soil testing typically uses a different extraction process for each target analyte, requiring a large number of analytical operations, but a multi-component extraction method can be used to analyze multiple soil constituents with a single extraction process for quicker overall analysis. The Tokyo University of Agriculture soil testing system uses sodium chloride for multi-component extraction, enabling the measurement of exchangeable constituents (Al, Ca, K, Mg, P, and S) and inorganic nitrogen (ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen) and the estimation of cation exchange capacity (CEC) from the same solution extract.&nbsp;By measuring multiple elements simultaneously in a single analysis, The ICPE-9820, an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer (ICP-AES) offers quicker elemental analysis. And it can be combined with sodium chloride extraction to dramatically reduces the time required to perform soil testing.&nbsp;In this Application News, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=ICPE-9820">ICPE-9820</a> analyzed farmland soil solution extracts for exchangeable constituents, available boron and trace elements, and a spike recovery test and a dilution test were then performed to validate this analytical method.<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>In this Application News, exchangeable components, available boron, and trace elements were analyzed in three farmland soil solutions extracted with extraction reagents used in the Soil Diagnostic System of Tokyo University of Agriculture using ICPE9820. The results from validation testing show the analytical method was accurate. And using an axial view and radial view of plasma for different purposes allowed high-concentration and low-concentration constituents to be measured simultaneously without diluting samples for individual target analytes.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Pushing the limits for trace elemental analysis using triple quadrupole ICP-MS</h3><ul><li>Other document (Case study)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/cs_003716_tea_icp_ms_icap_mx_ultra_trace_analysis_aquitaine_cs003716_em_en_d2772efe45.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Ultra Trace Analysis Aquitaine (UT2A) was formed in 1999 as a spin-off laboratory from the University of Pau, France, and is today a renowned independent technology center dedicated to inorganic analysis. The team’s mission is to help their clients fully understand the elemental content of their samples—not just supporting them by performing analyses but also helping established laboratories develop and fully optimize existing methods, up to the generation of ready to implement SOPs. UT2A collaborates with customers from all industries and analyzes a wide range of samples, including waters, foods, pharmaceuticals, and polymers. UT2A also provides solutions to test established methods for evaluation of performance.&nbsp;Jean Dumont is an application engineer with a background in elemental speciation who is now managing the routine analysis performed in the laboratory. He joined UT2A in 2003 as one of the first of what is now a team of 11 technical experts and lab technicians in the field of elemental analysis. “The first ICP-MS I used did not yet have a collision cell, so we had to be very careful with interferences,” says Jean. He adds, “For us, it is also very important to include sample preparation into our considerations as it is vital to get complete digestions and also to decrease detetction limits due to backgrounds.”&nbsp;UT2A received a Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">iCAP™ MTX ICP-MS</a> in their lab and have used it intensively and in full production over a period of 10 months. This was possible as the system was fully qualified using IQ/OQ. The instrument was usually operated twice per week, and on each day of operation, approximately 200 samples were run, including all blanks, standards, and QC checks.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 17, 2025

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 18, 2025

Life is often about making a choice or the best possible compromise between two aspects that seem to stand diametrically opposed to each other. For example, staying out late for dinner with friends while planning a long hike the following day with an early start. Either of these activities provides great pleasure, but combining both on the same weekend may not be the best idea. I come across many similar challenges almost every week, and each time I need to make a choice that seems to be the most promising in a given situation.The same is true in some cases for analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). While many questions about removing interferences were answered by my colleague <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.analyteguru.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/58">Simon Nelms</a> in his blogs, I would like to state here that most laboratories performing applied analytical testing of, for example, water samples or foodstuffs, mostly rely on single quadrupole-based ICP-MS, such as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/IQLAAGGAAQFAQKMBIT#/IQLAAGGAAQFAQKMBIT">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ RQ ICP-MS</a>, due to their robustness, ease of use and speed of analysis.Single quadrupole-based instruments remove all interferences using inert helium as a collision gas and kinetic energy discrimination (KED). The QCell collision/reaction cell (CRC) has two important advantages for this setup: High ion transmission across the full mass range (so that light elements such as lithium and beryllium can also be measured with the lowest detection limits), and an automatically adjusted low mass cutoff to further suppress backgrounds. More information on how KED removes interferences can be found <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/document-connect/document-connect.html?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.thermofisher.com%2FTFS-Assets%2FCMD%2Fbrochures%2Fsn-44415-icp-ms-single-quadrupole-sn44415-en.pdf&amp;title=U21hcnQgTm90ZTogVHJhY2UgRWxlbWVudHMgaW4gUm91dGluZSBTYW1wbGUgTWF0cmljZXMgVXNpbmcgU2luZ2xlIFF1YWRydXBvbGUgaUNBUCBSUSBJQ1AtTVM=">here</a>. Using a single collision gas for all analytes means that the time required for fill/flush cycle in the CRC can be cut from the method, and sample turnover times as low as 45 seconds for a multi-element analysis are feasible.In turn, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry-lc-ms/lc-ms-systems/triple-quadrupole-lc-ms.html">triple quadrupole</a> ICP-MS systems, like the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/731546#/731546">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ TQ ICP-MS</a>, may use a larger variety of gases for interference removal, among them helium, oxygen, hydrogen or ammonia. With dedicated measurement modes set up for specific analytes, superior interference removal is accomplished, allowing you to tackle challenging sample matrices and eliminating difficult interferences (such as doubly charged or isobaric interferences). However, each mode and each gas switch adds a few seconds to the method, so that a fully blown method using all available options may end up with extended sample turnover times, which may not be acceptable in a busy laboratory.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Is_There_a_Way_to_Improve_Both_Data_Quality_and_Productivity_in_2_8079c12318.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Is There a Way to Improve Both Data Quality and Productivity in." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Is_There_a_Way_to_Improve_Both_Data_Quality_and_Productivity_in_2_8079c12318.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="815" height="324">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ TQe ICP-MSWhile the inherent complexity of setting up a method has been reduced by innovative software tools, like the Reaction Finder method development assistant available in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Thermo Scientific™ Qtegra™ Intelligent Scientific Data Solution™ Software</a>, complex installation requirements and analysis times have been a barrier for adoption of triple quadrupole ICP-MS systems in applied testing laboratories.So is there again only a choice between two aspects of technology that seem to be incompatible with each other? Well, there is a new way to combine the superior interference removal of a triple quadrupole with the speed of a single quadrupole.The application experts in the Thermo Fisher Scientific Center of Excellence for Mass Spectrometry in Bremen, Germany, have recently developed a new method based on the use of oxygen as the only reactive gas in a method designed for a triple quadrupole ICP-MS system. Oxygen provides a wealth of chemical reactions to fully eliminate all interferences on common contaminants (such as chromium, arsenic, cadmium and mercury), but also provides comparable performance for elements not immediately benefitting from this reactive gas (e.g., typical matrix elements such as sodium, potassium, calcium or iron).At the same time, sample turnover times of just a little more than 1 minute are possible, so that several hundreds of samples can be analyzed during a shift, with no concerns about sample re-runs or data quality. The team has used a<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/BRE731556#/BRE731556"> Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ TQe ICP-MS</a>, an instrument designed specifically for laboratories looking to improve both interference removal and productivity. Independent of the matrix, this instrument allows you to overcome all current challenges, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/AN_43446_TQ_ICP_MS_Food_Apple_Tomato_Leaves_AN_43446_EN_9674d8e0c0.pdf">for example in the analysis of foodstuffs</a>, and sets the lab up for increased sample loads or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/document-connect/document-connect.html?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.thermofisher.com%2FTFS-Assets%2FCMD%2FApplication-Notes%2Fan-44479-icp-ms-rare-earth-elements-contaminants-an44479-en.pdf&amp;title=QXBwbGljYXRpb24gTm90ZTogSW50ZWdyYXRpb24gb2YgUmFyZSBFYXJ0aCBFbGVtZW50cyAoUkVFKSBpbnRvIGEgTm92ZWwgSUNQLU1TIE1ldGhvZCBmb3IgRW52aXJvbm1lbnRhbCBBbmFseXNpcw==">new sets of analytes</a> waiting to be taken on.If you would like to know more about how to overcome the seemingly impregnable gap between superior interference removal and productivity in the busy laboratory, please check out the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/BRE731556#/BRE731556">iCAP TQe ICP-MS</a>.

Is There a Way to Improve Both Data Quality and Productivity in

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 5th May 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you brochure by Agilent Technologies, application note by Shimadzu and other document by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: Enhance Your Capabilities with the Agilent <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=Cary+60+UV-Vis">Cary 60 UV-Vis</a> Spectrophotometer and Fiber Optic Probes</h3>Improve your lab operations<ul><li>Brochure</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.cz/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/brochure_fiber_optic_cary_60_uv_vis_5994_8058en_agilent_1_4116ecd93e.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>Remote capabilities with fiber optic probes&nbsp;</h4>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=10&amp;search=Cary+60+UV-Vis">Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis </a>spectrophotometer can be paired with fiber optic probes to unlock the potential for measurements that are not possible with traditional methods. These fiber optic probes allow for remote analysis, enabling a range of difficult measurements to be obtained, such as:&nbsp;<ul><li>Measurements of small volumes, or of hot/cold samples&nbsp;</li><li>Measurements in controlled environments such as fume hoods or glove boxes&nbsp;</li><li>Measurements from areas in which it is difficult to obtain a sample, such as reaction vessels</li></ul>This remote analysis capability therefore enhances safety and convenience in the lab.&nbsp;<h4>Enhanced workflow efficiency&nbsp;</h4>Switching to the fiber optic probes can dramatically improve the UV-Vis analysis workflow. Unlike traditional cuvette analyses, fiber optic probes are significantly easier to wash and clean. In addition, the probes are very robust, unlike cuvettes (particularly quartz/glass), which can be expensive to replace when broken. This translates into a faster and more efficient process, allowing operators to focus on their analysis rather than on sample introduction.<h4>Performance comparison: fiber optic probe vs. cuvettes</h4>Our comparative study displays the reliability of the fiber optic probe for quick and easy measurements. The probe (1 cm pathlength) was connected to the Cary 60 UV-Vis via the fiber optic coupler to measure the absorbance of five standards (n = 5) of thymol blue in test tubes where serial dilutions had taken place.<h4>Improve your lab operations&nbsp;</h4>The Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer combined with fiber optic probes offers a simple approach to sample measurement, providing remote capabilities and improving workflow efficiency. Enhance your lab operations and experience the benefits of this powerful combination.&nbsp;<h4>Why choose the fiber optic probe?&nbsp;</h4>The fiber optic probe provides a range of benefits:&nbsp;<ul><li>Ease of use: The probe is simple to operate, reducing the time and effort required for measurements.&nbsp;</li><li>Durability: Built to withstand rigorous laboratory conditions, the probe is made from quartz, PTFE, stainless steel, and torlon, ensuring long-term reliability.&nbsp;</li><li>Lab efficiency: The probe provides time savings and increased productivity.&nbsp;</li><li>Cost saving: No cuvette is required.&nbsp;</li><li>Enhanced safety: Handling of hazardous chemicals are not required.&nbsp;</li><li>Remote measurement: Samples can be measured from any vessel type, up to meters away from the instrument.&nbsp;</li></ul><h3>2. Shimadzu: Determination of Trace Elements in Whole Blood by ICP-MS with Simple Dilution of Samples</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_03_icpms_230_en_8591295dc7.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits:</h4><ul><li>Whole blood samples are directly diluted and tested to avoid contamination and losses caused by complex pretreatment processes, while saving labor and time costs.</li><li>Low sample consumption enables simultaneous analysis of trace elements in batch samples for research.&nbsp;</li></ul>Elements are crucial substances that sustain normal metabolism and life activities within the human body. They serve as components of certain enzymes, hormones, and so on in the body and are also significant indicators of human nutritional status. Blood is a common biological fluid, a complex liquid mixture mainly composed of water, proteins, glucose, mineral salts, and red and white blood cells. Meanwhile, blood samples for research are characterized by small size yet large in quantity. Therefore, how to rapidly, accurately, and simply detect the content of multiple trace elements in bulk whole blood is an urgent problem that needs to be solved.This article uses a mixed dilution solution of 0.2% HNO3+0.1 mg/L Au to dilute whole blood samples 20 times, and directly determines the content of 19 elements including Fe, Ca, Mg, Se, Hg, Pb in the samples by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=1&amp;search=ICPMS-2050">ICPMS-2050</a>.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The content of trace elements in whole blood was determined with Shimadzu ICPMS-2050. The method was achieved with simple pre-processing, low pollution, low sample consumption, high accuracy, fast analysis speed. From the analysis result, even ICPMS-2040 with only He collision can meet the elemental analysis in whole blood. In addition, ICPMS-2050 with the H2 mode can improve the sensitivity of Se.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: Pushing the limits for trace elemental analysis using triple quadrupole ICP-MS</h3><ul><li>Other (Case study)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.cz/paper/29032">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>Ultra Trace Analysis Aquitaine (UT2A) was formed in 1999 as a spin-off laboratory from the University of Pau, France, and is today a renowned independent technology center dedicated to inorganic analysis. The team’s mission is to help their clients fully understand the elemental content of their samples—not just supporting them by performing analyses but also helping established laboratories develop and fully optimize existing methods, up to the generation of ready to implement SOPs. UT2A collaborates with customers from all industries and analyzes a wide range of samples, including waters, foods, pharmaceuticals, and polymers. UT2A also provides solutions to test established methods for evaluation of performance.Jean Dumont is an application engineer with a background in elemental speciation who is now managing the routine analysis performed in the laboratory. He joined UT2A in 2003 as one of the first of what is now a team of 11 technical experts and lab technicians in the field of elemental analysis. “The first ICP-MS I used did not yet have a collision cell, so we had to be very careful with interferences,” says Jean. He adds, “For us, it is also very important to include sample preparation into our considerations as it is vital to get complete digestions and also to decrease detection limits due to backgrounds.”UT2A received a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MTX ICP-MS</a> in their lab and have used it intensively and in full production over a period of 10 months. This was possible as the system was fully qualified using IQ/OQ. The instrument was usually operated twice per week, and on each day of operation, approximately 200 samples were run, including all blanks, standards, and QC checks.One sample that particularly benefitted from the novel technology within the iCAP MTX ICP-MS was an aqueous medical solution containing g∙L⁻¹ of NaCl but requiring a quite stringent quantification limit of 1 μg∙L⁻¹ for iron. Considering the 1:10 dilution, this means that the instrument needs to reliably detect 0.1 μg∙L⁻¹. “That was easily possible thanks to the great sensitivity of the instrument in KED (Kinetic Energy Discrimination) mode,” says Jean. This can be easily complemented by using reactive gases and triple quadrupole technology for advanced interference removal when needed. One example was a request to analyze selenium in a product that contains high levels of gadolinium, creating an interference through doubly charged ions.Running such samples with only a light dilution upfront usually means a lot of maintenance on conventional ICP-MS systems, as salt deposits may clog nebulizers or contaminate the interface area of an ICP-MS. Ultimately, such effects lead to drifts and QC failures, as well as declining sensitivity over time. The Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MX Series ICP-MS instruments come with a redesigned sample introduction system and interface, greatly reducing such unwanted matrix effects. While the new interface design significantly reduces deposition during sample analysis, intelligent Matrix Handling (or iMH) helps to further reduce exposure of the instrument during non-productive analysis times (i.e., sample uptake and wash). Samples containing even higher amounts of total dissolved solids (TDS) can be diluted automatically using argon gas directly in the instrument with the new Easy Argon Gas Dilution (Easy AGD).“We have used the matrix interface for this kind of analysis, and there was no deposition visible on the interface. No issues pointing towards an issue with cones, not even with undiluted seawater,” states Jean. If the interface needs to be cleaned, the easy access makes this a simple procedure, also for the sample introduction system. “In case we’re asked to really push the quantification limits, it is also great to be able to easily access the extraction lens on the backside of the interface,” says Jean. Compared to other instruments, the frequency of maintenance could be reduced. “I explained to my technicians earlier that you have to clean cones every time you use the instrument. However, with the iCAP MTX ICP-MS, we only cleaned the cones for really pushing the quantification limits—most of the time, it was not required and certainly not done as frequently as before.”For laboratories where operators are switching between different applications and instruments, software is a key element to success. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Thermo Scientific™ Qtegra™ Intelligent Scientific Data Solution (ISDS) Software</a> is a strong asset. “I have used former versions of Qtegra software, and I am now happy with all functions integrated into a single graphical user interface. Qtegra software is easy to understand, even for new users.” Qtegra ISDS software allows users to define specific settings for each analyte, including different resolution settings on both quadrupoles. In addition, it comes with a series of useful tools supporting the efficiency of the laboratory, for example the Thermo Scientific™ Hawk™ Consumables and Maintenance Assistant, as well as the built-in feature set for Quality Control monitoring. “We have created a custom alert to remind us to perform a detector set up and cross calibration regularly—for us, this is a key step in gathering the best data,” says Jean.Based on the experience with the system, Jean Dumont is very happy with the iCAP MTX ICP-MS. “One thing I did not particularly like with previous generations of instruments was the peristaltic pump, but with the new EasyClick design, this is now eliminated. Sometimes tubings were changed just because of the schedule, not because they were worn out.”All in all, the addition of the iCAP MTX ICP-MS has left a strong impression in the laboratory. “If a customer were to ask me for my opinion on the iCAP MTX ICP-MS, I would say to do it,” concludes Jean.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 19, 2025

Our Library never stops expanding. What are the most recent contributions to LabRulezICPMS Library in the week of 12th May 2025? Check out new documents from the field of spectroscopy/spectrometry and related techniques!<blockquote>👉 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library">SEARCH THE LARGEST REPOSITORY OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT SPECTROSCOPY/SPECTROMETRY RELATED TECHNIQUES</a></blockquote><blockquote>👉 Need info about different analytical techniques? Peek into <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezLCMS</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/library">LabRulezGCMS</a> libraries.</blockquote>This week we bring you guide by Agilent Technologies, application note by Shimadzu and other document by Thermo Fisher Scientific!<h3>1. Agilent Technologies: The Basics of UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometry</h3>A primer for Modern Materials Analysis<ul><li>Guide</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/primer_uv_vis_nir_basics_5994_7919en_agilent_ad0d92fa33.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometry is a powerful analytical technique used to study how materials interact with ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light. This method helps scientists investigate the electronic transitions in atoms and molecules, material compositions, and optical properties such as absorbance, reflectance, and transmittance across a broad wavelength range (typically 175 to 3300 nm).At the heart of a spectrophotometer are key components: a light source, a monochromator to isolate specific wavelengths, a sample compartment, and detectors. Agilent offers a range of advanced instruments such as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=Cary+5000">Cary 5000</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=Cary+6000i">Cary 6000i</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=Cary+7000">Cary 7000</a> Universal Measurement Spectrophotometer (UMS). These systems enable high-precision measurements and support a wide variety of accessories—including diffuse and specular reflectance units, fiber-optic probes, and polarizers—tailored to different sample types and experimental needs.Applications span multiple fields. In photovoltaics, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometers assess the quality and optical efficiency of solar cells by measuring diffuse reflectance and transmission. In semiconductor manufacturing, these instruments are used to map optical coatings and band gaps across wafers. In nanotechnology, they help characterize nanoparticles and quantum dots by identifying absorption profiles linked to particle size and dispersion.The technique also plays a critical role in biosciences for quantifying proteins and nucleic acids, and in quality control processes for color consistency in food, textiles, and eyewear. The Cary systems from Agilent deliver reliable and repeatable results across these diverse applications, especially when combined with the powerful <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=1&amp;search=Cary+WinUV+software">Cary WinUV software</a> and certified reference materials.Overall, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometry remains essential in both research and industry for its versatility, precision, and the rich insights it provides into material and molecular properties.<h3>2. Shimadzu: Silicone Quantitation from Siliconized Rubber Stoppers by Using FTIR</h3><ul><li>Application note</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/an_06_saip_sp_078_en_e926481583.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul><h4>User Benefits:</h4><ul><li>The present work provides an easy extraction method for fast and accurate quantitation of silicone.</li><li>The methodology can be adapted for extractable and leachable study of materials like pre-filled syringes, medical tubings and various drug delivery systems.</li></ul>Silicones are extensively employed in various industries due to their unique properties. In the pharmaceutical industry, they find numerous applications such as active ingredients, antifoaming agents, and excipients. They are also utilized in siliconization, pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, and packaging materials. Siliconization plays a vital role in the production of pre-fillable syringes, cartridges and rubber stoppers. Its purpose is to lubricate between the components which facilitates smooth gliding. It also enables a secure connection between the components like glass bottle and rubber stopper. By carefully optimizing the siliconization process parameters, it is possible to achieve a uniform coating while minimizing the presence of free silicone. To obtain quantitative information on the siliconization layers, it is essential to extract the silicone from siliconized components using organic solvents and then perform FTIR spectroscopy. This technique can provide crucial insights into the amount of silicone used on to the rubber stoppers. The present work demonstrates the application of FTIR for quantification of silicone in rubber stoppers.<h4>Experimental</h4>For the current study, the siliconized and non-siliconized rubber stoppers were collected from one of the manufacturers. Calibration curve was prepared by using USP reference standard Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The measurements were performed on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/library?manufacturerItems=3&amp;search=IRSpirit-ZX">IRSpirit-ZX</a> (Figure 1). The instrumental parameters are given in Table 1. The parameters used for measurement are referred from United States Pharmacopea1) .<h4>Conclusion&nbsp;</h4>Different grades of rubber samples were analyzed by FTIR using fixed thickness cell of NaCl, and excellent repeatability was obtained. The use of Hexane for extraction proved to be effective method for extraction of silicone from rubber stoppers. The % recovery obtained demonstrates the accuracy and reliability of the developed methodology. The method can be used for the routine analysis of rubber stopper samples to measure the content of silicone.<h3>3. Thermo Fisher Scientific: iCAP MX Series ICP-MS</h3><ul><li>Other document (Fact sheet)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/sl_003414_tea_elemental_analysis_icp_ms_green_fact_sheet_sl003414_na_en_c2c49c7ce7.pdf">Full PDF for download</a></li></ul>We are committed to designing our products with the environment in mind. This fact sheet provides the rationale behind the environmental claim that the Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MX Series ICP-MS uses up to 28% less energy. It is also responsibly packaged using 29% less material by weight and reduced in size by 22%.&nbsp;<h4>Product description&nbsp;</h4>The Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ MSX Series ICP-MS offers the simplicity and productivity required in analytical testing laboratories, while the Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">iCAP™ MTX ICP-MS </a>provides the performance and flexibility needed to perform cutting-edge applications in research-oriented and testing laboratories.<h4>Green features&nbsp;</h4><h5>More energy efficient&nbsp;</h5>The previous model Thermo Scientific™ iCAP™ RQplus ICP-MS used 34.31 kWh during an 8-hour operating day. The new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1487">iCAP MSX ICP-MS</a> uses 24.67 kWh during an 8-hour operating day, reducing the energy use by 28%.1 The iCAP MTX ICP-MS can be run interchangeably with a dry vacuum pump or the traditional oil vacuum pump, resulting in an energy savings of 25% when paired with the oil pump and 10% when paired with the dry pump (Table 1).This savings represents 1.7 metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually, or the greenhouse gas emissions from driving approximately 4,305 miles in an average passenger car.2&nbsp;The change in energy efficiency is due to the optimized vacuum pumps and decreased pumping speed in stand-by mode. When taking the chiller into account, we can expect an even higher energy efficiency as the new Thermo Scientific™ <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1489">Qtegra™ ISDS Software</a> controls the chiller, switching it off for stand-by mode.

News from LabRulezICPMS Library - Week 20, 2025

<h3>Unlocking the power of triple quadrupole ICP-MS for clinical research: A focus on trace element analysis</h3>Trace elements play a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes, influencing everything from metabolic function to disease progression. The ability to accurately quantify these elements in biological matrices such as blood, serum, and urine is essential for advancing clinical diagnostics, nutritional studies, and toxicology research. As clinical researchers push the boundaries of precision medicine, the ability to accurately measure trace elements in biological samples has become increasingly critical.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Cutting_Edge_Triple_Quad_ICP_MS_for_Clinical_Trace_Element_Analysis_62c9f82fee.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Cutting-Edge Triple Quad ICP-MS for Clinical Trace Element Analysis" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Cutting_Edge_Triple_Quad_ICP_MS_for_Clinical_Trace_Element_Analysis_62c9f82fee.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="600">Traditional techniques often face limitations in sensitivity or may offer access to a limited set of analytes only, but Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) overcomes these challenges and offers full multi-element detection with unmatched detection power. It is known as the gold standard for trace element analysis in a variety of other applications, offering unmatched sensitivity, precision, and throughput. Our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/CMD/Technical-Notes/tn-003015-tea-icp-ms-icap-mtx-clinical-tn003015-em-en.pdf">latest technical note</a> explores how the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">Thermo Scientific iCAP MTX ICP-MS</a> system empowers laboratories to achieve superior analytical performance in clinical research applications<h3>The role of ICP-MS in clinical research</h3>Essential and trace element analysis of biological samples provides significant information to support clinical research and forensic toxicology. For example, the exposure to toxic metals is a known risk factor for several diseases, whereas other elements, when present at appropriate levels, support regular biological function. Concentrations of elements within the blood of a population of subjects can correlate elemental exposure to geographical area, lifestyle, and socio-demographic factors.1<h3>Addressing analytical challenges with the iCAP MTX ICP-MS</h3>However, the analysis of samples containing higher levels of salts and biomolecules, such as proteins or metabolites is a known challenge in ICP-MS analytical techniques. The complexity of the sample matrix can significantly affect the sensitivity of the instrument, cause intensity fluctuation of the internal standard (suppression and drift), and lead to increased system maintenance with unwanted downtime due to obstruction of the interface cones, torch, and injector, or the nebulizer. In addition, the development of a multi-element method is challenging due to the wide concentration ranges that need to be covered across essential and toxic elements and the wide range of potential interferences from the sample matrix. These complex prerequisites often mean that triple quadrupole ICP-MS instruments are the best choice for analysis. The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1488">iCAP MTX ICP-MS system </a>addresses key challenges in trace element analysis, including:<ul><li>Enhanced sensitivity and accuracy: The triple quadrupole design improves detection limits, ensuring reliable quantification of even ultra-trace elements.</li><li>Matrix interference elimination: The system employs advanced interference removal techniques, delivering high-quality data even in complex biological samples.</li><li>Workflow efficiency: Designed for high-throughput laboratories, the system enhances productivity by streamlining sample preparation and data processing.</li></ul> The iCAP MTX ICP-MS was employed to analyze 43 elements in whole blood samples. Among the analytes, several critical interferences can cause unexpected bias, which were investigated closely for effective and complete removal by means of selective collision / reaction cell reactions with oxygen. This analytical method was rigorously tested, and the results obtained clearly demonstrated analytical advantages:<ul><li>The combination of He KED and TQ-O2 mode allows for effective suppression of typical interferences, which enables high sensitivity required for the accurate determination of the entire mass range (lithium to uranium) and a linear response for all analytes, which cover a concentration range of 8 orders of magnitude (Table 1).</li><li>The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://icpms.labrulez.com/products/1715">Thermo Scientific iSC-65 Autosampler</a> equipped with the Step Ahead feature allowed for a reduction of the total analysis time, and in combination with intelligent Matrix Handling, the analysis of whole blood could be carried out with improved productivity.</li><li>The use of TQ-O₂ mode allowed removal of interferences of any kind, especially on key analytes such as common transition metals, and toxic/essential elements such as arsenic or selenium in the 50-fold diluted whole blood samples. Figure 1 shows the TQ-O2 mode and a mass shift reaction for interference free detection of As and Ti.</li></ul>Table 1. Summary of analysis mode, and calibration results, R2, LODs, and MDLs for all analytes. All numbers are shown in μg·L-1.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Cutting_Edge_Triple_Quad_ICP_MS_for_Clinical_Trace_Element_Analysis_2_7a23fca938.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Cutting-Edge Triple Quad ICP-MS for Clinical Trace Element Analysis: Table 1. Summary of analysis mode, and calibration results, R2, LODs, and MDLs for all analytes. All numbers are shown in µg·L-1." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Cutting_Edge_Triple_Quad_ICP_MS_for_Clinical_Trace_Element_Analysis_2_7a23fca938.jpg 30w," sizes="100vw" width="676" height="3476"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Cutting_Edge_Triple_Quad_ICP_MS_for_Clinical_Trace_Element_Analysis_3_73d4ef0ad1.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Cutting-Edge Triple Quad ICP-MS for Clinical Trace Element Analysis: Figure 1. Schematic showing the use of TQ-O 2 mode and a mass shift reaction for interference free detection of arsenic (As) and titanium (Ti)." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Cutting_Edge_Triple_Quad_ICP_MS_for_Clinical_Trace_Element_Analysis_3_73d4ef0ad1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="700" height="410"><ul><li>The total analysis time was 3 min 14 s per sample (including uptake and wash time) for 43 elements. This is specifically for large cohort studies, for example to screen exposure in a representative population.</li><li>Robust and stable analytical performance was demonstrated over 15 hours of continuous acquisition of 287 samples by the iCAP MTX ICP-MS with excellent CCV results. Figure 2 shows the highly reproducible internal standard responses over the entire batch, demonstrating robust analytical performance.</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Cutting_Edge_Triple_Quad_ICP_MS_for_Clinical_Trace_Element_Analysis_4_b2a1f3f2aa.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Cutting-Edge Triple Quad ICP-MS for Clinical Trace Element Analysis: Figure 2. Response of the internal standards in a batch covering about ~15 hours of uninterrupted analysis of 287 samples." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Cutting_Edge_Triple_Quad_ICP_MS_for_Clinical_Trace_Element_Analysis_4_b2a1f3f2aa.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="700" height="207"><article><div><blockquote>Visit us on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/72003132/admin/dashboard/">LinkedIn:</a> #ClinicalResearch #TraceElementAnalysis #ICPMS #LaboratoryInnovation</blockquote></div></article><section><blockquote><h5>Daniel Kutscher</h5>Dr. Daniel Kutscher manages the Application Development for trace elemental analysis and GC/GC-MS products at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Center of Excellence in Mass Spectrometry in Bremen, Germany. After graduation in Chemistry in 2007, Daniel obtained his PhD from the University of Oviedo in 2011. In the same year, he joined Thermo Fisher Scientific and has had different roles in application development and marketing.</blockquote></section>

Cutting-Edge Triple Quad ICP-MS for Clinical Trace Element Analysis

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Cutting-Edge Triple Quad ICP-MS for Clinical Trace Element Analysis

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