Introducing the Bruker Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer EVOQ

The EVOQ triple quadrupole for liquid chromatography (LC-TQ) was developed for the purpose of consistently quantifying thousands of real samples in the fastest sample-to-report time possible. It offers high-sensitivity, accuracy, precision, linearity and a broad dynamic range for multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) assays of customers. Software innovations and atmospheric pressure ionization (API) technology make it suitable for routine high-sensitivity, quantitative analysis.

Key Benefits

The key benefits of the EVOQ triple quadrupole are:

• It is possible to obtain ultra-high sensitivity for tiny molecules and biomolecules as a result of the novel interlaced-quadrupole (IQ) dual ion funnel
• One can confidently run matrix-rich samples on the orifice-plate based API interface
• It is possible to effectively analyze thermally labile molecules at high flow rates with the novel vacuum insulated probe (VIP) heated-electrospray probe
• Save time using exception-based data-review software making it easier to highlight chromatograms that do not meet preset method criteria.

Key Applications

The key applications of the EVOQ triple quadrupole are:

• Since food is a perishable commodity, food testing requires fast results. The EVOQ LC-TQ renders the fastest sample-to-report time using PACERTM software.
• Environmental analysis can be made economical by using on-line extraction (OLE) using the space-saving AdvanceTM UHPLC with OLE.
• Toxicology testing encompasses a broad range of compounds in difficult matrices, which can be easily ionized by VIP heated-ESI technology.
• Pharmacokinetics in early drug discovery needs high-sensitivity and superior robustness to analyze hundreds of rat plasma samples on a daily basis; a task that is possible with the orifice/IQ dual ion funnel design.

Bruker Liquid Chromatography Solutions

Advance UHPLC, HPLC, and OLE LC Modules

The Advance LC Pump technology renders the lowest possible system delay-volume, offering superior ballistic gradient reproducibility at analytical flow rates. This design-for-purpose detail brings down gradient delay and ensures highly precise retention times. The advantage is shorter run-to-run cycle times with the reproducibility needed for quantitative LC-MS/MS analyses.

The OLE module expands the performance of the LC-TQ by enabling method-driven, on-line cleanup or sample pre-concentration. Adding a third pump in the same module and under full software control brings down bench space requirement and makes setup easier, while giving the flexibility of rapid method development.

1. Highly efficient VIP heated electrospray and APCI probes standard
2. Superior MRM sensitivity lens-free mass analyzer
3. Flat-tuning, tune-free, IQ dual ion funnel
4. Available in high performance QubeTM or ultra performance EliteTM models
5. UHPLC, HPLC, or OLE models with built-in column oven and degasser
6. eVol digital syringe standard infusion or loop injection experiments
7. CTC Autosampler (industry workhorse) with reduced carryover capability
8. High-capacity, cooled-tray sample storage standard

Sensitivity & Robustness

The EVOQ API interface was designed to provide sensitivity with excellent robustness; requirements that set the standards for precision, accuracy, and reproducibility.

Accuracy, precision and sensitivity are impacted by the duty cycle and is defined as the time spent by the mass analyzer measuring the target analyte. In MRM, the duty cycle can be close to 100% for a single component. Even with a co-eluting internal standard, the duty cycle of a TQ-MS is much more than any other MS analyzer technique that requires scanning of the mass range. This is the main reason a TQ-MS remains unbeatable for high sensitivity and absolute quantitative analysis.

Accuracy & Precision

Accuracy can be defined as the closeness of the experimental value to the actual amount of the target analyte in matrix. It can also be defined as measuring systematic bias. Precision is a measurement of random error and how well the experimental values agree with each other.

These parameters together determine the total error of the assay, which in turn determines the limit of quantitation (LOQ). Since the MRM technique spends most of the time determining the target analyte, the result is an unbeatable LOQ in matrix; something that will be achieved routinely on the EVOQ LC-TQ.

Delivering Heat Where It Belongs

The nebulizer temperature needs only to be set and VIP technology will ensure that the electrospray ionization (ESI) is precisely heated for maximum sensitivity. VIP is a patent-pending heated ESI design that effectively ionizes thermally labile molecules such as N-oxides, glucuronides, or peptides during the high flow rate heated ESI process. This novel technology provides an insulated flow path for the LC eluent shielding it from undesirable temperature fluctuations occurring during the LC gradient.

Tune-Free Ion Optics

The IQ dual ion funnel system is an exclusively simple design that captures ions in the free-jet expansion region and focuses them effectively into a coherent ion beam to offer high sensitivity and robustness without the need for compound-specific tuning.

The IQ dual ion funnel system has two key advantages:

1. Can be used convenently due to the funnel-shaped, RF-only focusing field design which focusses the ions into a coherent ion beam, eliminating the need for compound-dependent tuning.
2. Drastically enhnaces instrument up-time and eliminates the need for frequent maintenance because of the spatial geometry of the IQ dual ion funnel which improves removal of background gases over conventional stacked-lens funnels, reducing surface contamination.

Data Management

Even though, there is a large amount of hardware that can run more samples per day, with the aid of automated sample preparation and ballistic gradients, there may not be any significant change in productivity. This happens because the vital process of data analysis and review is still dependent on redundant levels of human interaction. One needs to understand that hardware is only half the solution and it may end you drowning in data.

This innovative software ensures that the human interaction with the process of data review is made more efficient by eliminating the data review bottleneck. Bruker software innovation instantly increases efficiency by eliminating unproductive time spent on data review without compromising data quality.

Exception-Based Data Review

Pattern recognition technology is used by powerful PACER integration algorithms that precisely define and combine small peaks within noisy baselines, a challenge that increases as one approaches the LOQ. Since peaks are accurately picked on the large majority of components, the human workload for manual integration and review is drastically reduced. This is significant since the highlighted chromatograms are those that impact assay quality and its reputation.

Time is critical and data quality is very important in a commercial testing laboratory. PACER software and the EVOQ LC-TQ help run more samples without the typical data analysis bottlenecks.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Bruker Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry.

For more information on this source, please visit Bruker Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry.