UPLC-MS analysis

What is UPLC-MS used for?

UPLC-MS is used to determine the contents of complex chemical solutions with high precision and accuracy. One common application is food industry quality control, where UPLC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS can be used to determine food products' amino acid profile and vitamin content.

The method can also be used for assessing the safety of food contact materials regarding the release of primary aromatic amines (PAA). It can detect PAAs with a detection limit of 0.002 mg/kg. Pharmaceutical and environmental samples can also be screened for various types of contaminants.

How does UPLC-MS work?

The operating principle of UPLC-MS is the same as that of traditional LC-MS analysis, combining liquid chromatography separation of components with detection using mass spectrometry. The chromatography column used in UPLC-MS does, however, use smaller particles and thus tolerates higher pressures. This improves the method’s speed, resolution, and sensitivity.

Suitable samples and sample preparation

UPLC-MS samples need to be dissolved in a very high-purity solvent to reduce the risk of contamination, which could affect the quality of results. Larger biomolecules may need an additional digestion phase to ensure that they fully disperse into solution prior to analysis.

UPLC-MS/MS

In UPLC-MS/MS analysis (also known as UPLC tandem mass spectrometry), the sample is passed through two mass spectrometers in succession. This provides more in-depth data and is especially useful for analyzing large complex biomolecules by splitting them at multiple stages. It is also possible to add additional mass spectrometers to the setup.

UPLC-MS vs. HPLC-MS

High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) is a predecessor technique to UPLC-MS. It uses larger particles as the stationary phase in the separation column and therefore tends to produce a less effective separation. It also operates at a lower pressure, and the analysis is thus more time-consuming than UPLC-MS. However, HPLC is a cheaper technique to set up and requires less expertise to operate, so it may be preferred in situations where the resolution it provides is adequate.

Need UPLC-MS analyses?

Measurlabs offers laboratory testing with UPLC-MS and a wide range of other chromatography methods. We are committed to delivering the highest quality analyses with short turnaround times, even for batches of hundreds of samples. Our testing experts are also always available to help you with any questions regarding method selection or result interpretation. Contact us through the form below to start the discussion.