How to multiplex up to 4 liquid chromatography systems with StreamSelect technology – your questions answered

StreamSelect technology enables you to multiplex up to four liquid chromatography (LC) systems with a single mass spectrometer, allowing full utilization of the detector.

In this on-demand webinar, Kevin McCann and Ryan Rademacher present the StreamSelect multichannel LC-MS system as a fail-safe instrument that ensures your workflow will continue uninterrupted, even if one liquid chromatography instrument goes down.

This innovative solution promises to improve your laboratory’s efficiency with:

• Higher throughput
• Intuitive data collection, processing, and reporting with MassHunter software
• Intelligent error handling
• Increased flexibility to run single or multiple methods
• Hassle-free online sample cleanup
  

Key learning objectives for this webinar:

• Learn how StreamSelect technology can ensure that your mass spec never sits idle
• Understand how MassHunter software can control four independent LC systems and manage production through one MS
• Learn how to get consistently high data quality while using four LC systems
• See how to drastically reduce your cost-per-sample

Think you could benefit from this webinar, but missed it? You can now watch it on demand at a time that suits you.

Find highlights from the live Q&A session below:

Q: Is additional software needed beyond what is on an LC/MS to run StreamSelect?

The StreamSelect software builds right on top of what is traditionally shipped with an Agilent triple quad. StreamSelect Data Acquisition is an add-on that is installed on top of MassHunter Acquisition. Data is processed with the standard MassHunter Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analysis software. There is very little to learn if you're already familiar with Agilent MassHunter software.

Q: You mentioned in the ROI example a 16-hour day. Can the StreamSelect run independently?

StreamSelect data acquisition is not necessarily limited by somebody being in the lab. It can run independently. Since we have Intelligent Error Handling, you can be confident in the system’s ability to operate unattended.

Q: What other errors can the Intelligent Error Handling address?

Intelligent Error Handling takes care of any situation where an error occurs. The mass spec and the LC are able to detect a lot of different things that are happening during a run. The software is constantly monitoring pump pressure, gas pressures, and temperatures for correct settings. Anything that would cause the software to believe the system is not capable of performing an analysis would trigger the Intelligent Error Handling.

Q: Could you give us some ideas of costings, for example, acquisition and ongoing maintenance costs of the Agilent StreamSelect LC/MS system?

One of the advantages of StreamSelect is that you only have a single mass spectrometer for what equates to four traditional LC/MS systems. Generally, the mass spectrometer is the costliest component of the LC/MS. By maximizing the utility of each mass spectrometer, you not only reduce your initial investment, but also lower your cost of ownership through maintenance. Furthermore, StreamSelect systems are upgradable; you can start with a two-stream system, and grow it to a three- or four-stream system. If you are already established with a single LC/MS, we can work with you to convert that system to StreamSelect. Additionally, StreamSelect is compatible with Agilent’s Certified Pre-Owned instrumentation.

Q: Can the StreamSelect unit be used with other detectors like UV or IR detectors?

StreamSelect is compatible with all 6400 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS systems. No other detectors are supported at this time.

Q: How will the system react in a case of auxiliary gas not working properly?

Intelligent Error Handling will handle any of these types of errors. If the issue was something temporary, the system would wait for the parameter to stabilize before continuing with data acquisition. If the issue was not resolved in an appropriate amount of time, StreamSelect would abort the run, saving your samples for later analysis.

Q: Should the four LC systems be from one manufacturer or could they be from two different manufacturers connected with one MS and controlled with MassHunter software?

StreamSelect has been designed with the intention that all system modules are Agilent components. The reason for this comes down to ensuring productivity and reliability. The StreamSelect software is in constant communication with all the other components, monitoring several different aspects of each module. The only way to achieve this is with a communication protocol that has access to all this information. Something like a contact closure setup does not have the same reliability or capability.

Q: What happens if the mass spec goes down? Will I lose my samples?

With the Agilent StreamSelect system and Intelligent Error Handling, you would not lose your samples. If the StreamSelect software determines that the instrument cannot reliably analyze samples, the run will be aborted. Once the issue is corrected, the instrument would be able to resume the aborted run.

Q: Can I easily migrate a method from my current LC/MS system?

We wanted to ensure it was easy to migrate to StreamSelect from an existing LC/MS, particularly if you're currently running an Agilent LC/MS. The methods used by StreamSelect are the exact same methods used on a standard Agilent LC/MS. There is no additional development, no additional data that needs to be collected. You can even use existing Agilent LC/MS data to implement StreamSelect by simply specifying when you want to start and stop collecting mass spec data.

Q: What operating system does StreamSelect work on?

The latest version of StreamSelect runs on Windows 10.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Learn more about the StreamSelect system: Watch this webinar on demand >>