Opinions on Varian Microsphere columns

[javaslinger]

Varian has a line of columns they call their Microsphere sphere line which they price significantly lower than typical similar columns. They run around $150 for a new column.

Apparently, the only difference is they batch screen the columns for QC (something like 5 out of 100) instead of every one like you would get from Waters or Phenomenex.

Has any used these? And feedback?

The sales rep tells me that should they not produce quality results, you just exchange for another.

This price is like 1/4 of a typical column so I thinking it might be worth the risk/hassle...

Thanks,

Ken

[Mark Tracy]

These columns have been around a long time. Varian acquired them when they bought the columns division of Rainin. (Rainin used to sell them for $99; Varian immediately raised the price to $129.) I used them years ago, before I started competing against them; while they are not as nice as the best modern columns, they are not bad either. For those applications where any "generic" C18 column will do, they are worth a try.