Laboratories carefully analyze their current requirements for productivity and efficiency before investing in autosamplers for GC/MS and LC/MS. It also makes sense to look at automation potential, specifically automated sample preparation. A whitepaper of Gerstel lists several tips for selecting a new autosampler for your GC/MS of LC/MS systeem.
To meet all demands and keep the customer satisfied, a good start is to automate manually performed routine sample preparation tasks. Typical examples are generating standards or dilution series – or adding an internal standard or derivatization reagent. But the possibilities are, if not endless, more extensive than most people would think, provided you have the right automation platform.
Basic autosampler functionality is a good indicator of success
A modern autosampler based on an X-Y-Z robot, such as the Gerstel multiPurpose Sampler (MPS), can perform almost unlimited tasks since it moves unrestricted in three dimensions and can access a large number of sample positions. Standard tasks include sample introduction to GC/MS or LC/MS or simple sample preparation steps like adding an internal standard.
This is a good starting point, but one needs to look deeper. Maybe you need a sampler to perform dilution series or generate a series of calibration standards. All this must be accompanied by enough syringe- or valve rinsing possibilities to eliminate sample-to-sample carryover and cross contamination.
Advanced functionality on demand
If more advanced sample preparation tasks need to be performed at a later time, can these be added to the system in a modular fashion? Which options and accessories are typically added? Examples include SPE, SBSE or DHS. A fully loaded autosampler is rarely needed, but it is very useful to be able to add these capabilities on demand with little effort or additional expense.
Application and integration requirements
Is the autosampler needed for sample introduction directly into the GC/MS or LC/MS system? If so, wouldn’t it be helpful to perform sample preparation and analysis in parallel? This would ensure that samples are always prepared immediately before being analyzed and could maximize system utilization.
Or will the system mainly be used as a separate workstation to generate standards and dilution series for the analysis instrument(s)? The clearer the definition, the easier it is to select the right autosampler, both for current and for future requirements.
Download the Gerstel whitepaper on Looking for Automation or visit the booth of Da Vinci Laboratory Solutions at WOTS in Hall 7 for a demonstration..
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