LC-MS/MS system identifies trace-level metabolites

The instrument brings together quadrupole precursor selection and high-resolution accurate mass (HR/AM) Orbitrap mass analysis to deliver high-confidence quantitative and qualitative workflows.

With HR/AM Quanfirmation capability, the Q Exactive mass spectrometer makes it possible to identify, quantify and confirm more trace-level metabolites, contaminants, peptides and proteins in complex mixtures in one analytical run.

Powered by Orbitrap technology, the Q Exactive system delivers ultra-high resolution and mass accuracy, enabling high-confidence identifications and retrospective data analysis.

Fast scanning and spectral multiplexing ensure the system is fully compatible with UHPLC separations.

Fast positive-negative scan-to-scan polarity switching enables detection of a range of compound types in a single analysis.

Features of the Q Exactive high-performance benchtop quadrupole-Orbitrap LC-MS/MS include: new ion source optics increase sensitivity up to fivefold; integrated quadrupole mass filter enables precursor ion selection; true MS/MS fragmentation occurs in the higher-energy collisional induced dissociation (HCD) cell prior to Orbitrap HR/AM detection; advanced signal processing increases system resolving power to 140,000FWHM in full-scan mode and maximum scan speed; new C-Trap ion optics and HCD collision cell offer fast HCD MS/MS scanning and improve low-mass ion transmission, enhancing sensitivity and quantitative performance - particularly for experiments that use isobaric labelling; and multiplexed detection, which increases overall system duty cycle for compatibility with UHPLC.

Up to 10 precursor ions can be collected and stored prior to simultaneous detection in the Orbitrap.