Selecting an LC/MS system

[josebenjamin]

Dear Friends,

My lab is acquiring an LC/MS system. We would like to hear your opinions, comments and recomendations. The research areas are;

Precursors to Pharnaceutical Compounds
Metabolites in Bioavailability and Bioequivalency studies
New Structures in Plant extracts
Proteins in Microrganisms
Biotracers

Thus far the units propossed are,

Varian 1200 MS Triple Quadrupole (ESI) fitted with a Varian 210 binary pump, autosampler, RI detector,column oven, and data system

Varian 500 MS ESI/API (upgradable to APCI), fitted with same LC system above.

Agilent 1100 series LC/MSD, fitted with binary pump, midrodegasser, column oven, autosampler, RI detector, data system.

Our needs are basically a good reliable, simple unit, not a very capable and sophisticated one. Our budgets are limited and we need to make a good investment.

Please send us your comments and recomendations. Which one would you select?, would you buy a different one?. We also would like to hear about good sources of information on LC/MS and about training courses.

Thanks,

josebenjamin

[Koen Hollebekkers]

Maybe I'm coloured in this discussion so I will not advise you any vendor

But I would advise to think also about service and costs. MS systems are complex and need to be serviced every now and then. Can the supplier you have in mind offer this? Has it got experience? How fast he can be in your lab? Also ask for references.

Good luck

[josebenjamin]

Dear Koen,

Everybody seems to be reluctant to share opinions about instruments. Thus far I have received just about zero recommendations or comments.

I agree with your words about complexity and service. Thanks.

josebenjamin

[Molly]

I am not LC/MS person, mainly LC applications, but we have Applied Biosystem's API MS system for bioanalytical work, which is really good for quantitation. For structure elucidation, we have Thermal QTC Ion Trap for Unit Mass and waters Q-TOF for accurate mass. HPLC is typically chosen to have easy interface to MS instrument. UPLC has been shown promise for areas that need high sample throughput. Hope this helps.Molly

[oscarBAL]

Dear Jose Benjamin.
I think, the Best for this kind of studies is UPLC, for two principal reason:
Sencibility, and especifity of the Tamdem system or Tof.
Usually the in vivo test requeri alot of injections and UPLC reduce the time per run in a %times factor.