Varian launches its 325-MS triple-quadrupole liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer

Varian, Inc. (NasdaqGS: VARI) announced today the release of the 325-MS triple-quadrupole LC/MS (liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer) for the efficient detection and identification of chemical compounds in high-throughput laboratories performing environmental, food safety, and toxicology analyses.

Analytical chemists face the challenge of identifying a growing list of compounds from an increasing number of samples in a variety of matrices. To remain competitive, laboratories must maximize the number of compounds they can detect and quantify in a single analytical run while minimizing the time spent on maintaining the instrument. The 325-MS, Varian's next generation LC/MS triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer features a novel ESI ion source and improved ion-optics that jointly enhance sensitivity, ruggedness and throughput.

At the heart of the 325-MS is Varian's patent pending vESI(TM) ion source, a vortex ESI ion source that improves sensitivity by increasing the efficiency of the desolvation process. A vortex of drying-gas facilitates ion desolvation at lower temperatures, accommodating a wider range of flow-rates for small molecule analysis as well as biomolecules without compromising system performance. Chemists can take advantage of the improved sensitivity by either lower detection limits for some compounds or by analyzing more compounds in a single run, increasing throughput and reducing the cost per analysis.

Gold-Guard(TM) ion optics (patent pending) provide enhanced contamination resistance. The 325-MS requires little to no cleaning in order to maintain a high-level of reproducibility and accuracy even after repeated injections of analytes suspended in a complex matrix. Fewer cleanings mean greater uptime and more productivity, again reducing the cost per analysis.

In order to help customers get the most from their instrument, Varian also provides consumables, including sample preparation tools and HPLC columns, as well as applications assistance and a comprehensive selection of support and training options.

"Maintaining and even increasing throughput is essential for laboratories performing environmental analyses and food safety testing," said Martin O'Donoghue, Senior Vice President, Scientific Instruments, Varian, Inc. "The 325-MS allows users to gather more information from each run while spending less time maintaining the instrument."