Automating Toxicology LC/MS workflows – Improving productivity and analytical performance through automation
LC/MS is now widely used for many clinical and forensic toxicology applications due to the inherent specificity and sensitivity of the technology. Sample preparation and pre-treatment requirements of LC/MS can still be a bottle neck in high volume testing laboratories resulting in time consuming and labor intensive manual steps.
This presentation will describe how automation of LC/MS methods can improve productivity and analytical results.
Explore the journey of the sample through an automated LC/MS workflow from sample receipt to the reporting of results back into a LIMS. The advantages of automation are discussed, along with automation options for the toxicology LC/MS workflow based on different laboratory needs. Sample tracking is a key part of any workflow and has been considered in all automated options shown, including other important requirements to ease the extraction and analysis process for the analyst.
Learning Objectives - What you will learn:
Why Automation is important for LC/MS workflows in toxicology applications
What steps can be automated in LC/MS workflows
How automation can improve analytical performance and productivity
Presenter: Robert Wardle (Senior Scientist, Clinical Applications, Waters Corporation, UK)
Rob Wardle is a currently a Senior Scientist employed at Waters Corporation in Wilmslow, UK, performing research and development of applications and products for Clinical and toxicology applications. Rob has wide experience of method development in clinical and toxicology applications and in recent years has played a key role on developing offline and online automation methods and protocols. Rob joined Waters in 2010 as a Clinical Validation Scientist, playing a key role in verification activities for LC/MS reagent kits. Rob moved into his current role as a Senior Scientist in 2013, where he developed methods for a range of applications including vitamin D metabolites, vitamin B1 and B6 metabolites and a large panel of steroid hormones. Rob have presented work at conferences worldwide, gaining my first publication in Clinica Chimica Acta as well as having a patent application pending.
