Thermo Fisher Scientific TSQ Quantum GC Triple Quadrupole GC-MS/MS Achieves Fast Multi-Residue Pesticide Analysis in Food

International regulations on the maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in food cover hundreds of individual components in the range of 10 ppb or lower. Currently, more than 300 regulated pesticides can be analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) while a large group of highly polar pesticides is covered by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods. Complex elution is a particular challenge in the detection and quantification of a large number of pesticides in one run. Due to many compounds that partially or completely coelute, a high speed analyzer is required to generate a sufficient number of data points and ensure reliable integration of overlapping chromatographic peaks.

The new application note discusses how modern food safety testing laboratories can take advantage of the fast acquisition rate provided by the TSQ Quantum GCTM to achieve rapid analysis of multi-residue pesticides. The TSQ Quantum GC provides highest productivity for multi-residue pesticide analysis for effective control at the international MRL levels.

For this application, the TSQ Quantum GC is used in conjunction with a Thermo Scientific TRACE GC Ultra gas chromatograph, a Thermo Scientific TriPlus autosampler configured for liquid injection and a Thermo Scientific TRACE TR-5MS analytical column for chromatographic separation. This comprehensive system is capable of achieving high sample throughput with a total of 170 pesticide components being screened with high sensitivity in a single injection in only 20 minutes. Excellent sensitivity, selectivity and flexibility are achieved by using up to 25 transitions in 11 retention time windows. False positive results due to cross talk are safely excluded even under fast acquisition cycles. The TSQ Quantum GC offers the potential to further reduce dwell times without sacrificing the overall sensitivity, allowing the addition of more target pesticides as necessary.

To streamline the data review and reporting process for multiple pesticides analysis, the system uses Thermo Scientific QuanLab Forms 2.5 software. This solution provides productivity enhancements tailored to the workflow demands of the pesticides analysis laboratory. QuanLabTM Forms includes an integrated user interface for the management of the total list of pesticides, allowing analysts to easily create and manage methods, acquire samples, review results and print reports.