Need help with tune check

[cherry1027]

Has anybody tried to use compounds other than DFTPP for semi-volatile compounds tune check?
In our method, we use stune, and we are tring to determine all kinds of samples using different column.
What I proposed, to check if the instrument is tuned and continuously tuned. We can just look at the internal standard diganl/spectra throught out the run seqences.

However, me and my colleagues can't seem to agree on how much info needs to be check to ensure the mass spec is tuned (this is more focus on during the run). I am thinking check the quant and qual ions, m/z, retention time, ions ratio, (plus library search) is probably sufficient to show that the instrument is good. But they would like to do something similar to EPA methods, which will set up 8 to 10 different criteria over several ions (like the standard BFB or DFTPP tune).

Can you give me some suggestions about how can be considered solid prove that the instrument is tuned besides the tune report?

Thank you very much

[mckrause]

Why do you need to check the tune? Are you concerned about drift? If so, check a continuing calibration standard to make sure your calibration is still valid - this will tell you way more about the functioning of the instrument than a tune check.

Are you concerned about library matching? This was the original reason for the tune criteria in USEPA 625 (and later in 8270). Tuning criteria was essentially eliminated with the move to PBM, and makes little to no sense for quantitative MS work.