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Improving Open-Access Mass Spectrometry Reliability Through Automated System Suitability
John H Moncur1; Scott J Campbell1; Ben S. Campbell1; Caleigh O’Connor2 and Christopher J. Wike3
1SpectralWorks Ltd., Runcorn, United Kingdom; 2MassTech Inc., Columbia, MD; 3PolyLC Inc., Columbia, MD, USA
First presented 46th BMSS Conference, September 2026, Leeds, UK.
Introduction
Open-access mass spectrometry enables 24/7 instrument use by a broad community of scientists, removing the need for specialist training and accelerating routine analysis. However, this model depends on instruments remaining consistently stable, calibrated, and ready for use at all times. We present a system suitability workflow that verifies instrument performance against performance previously established in the laboratory. If a suitability test fails, the operator can ensure that remedial action can be taken to avoid the generation of low-quality or misleading data.
A workflow using a portable, field deployable, LC-MS (Figure 1) coupled with an integrated environmental sensor module that records temperature, humidity, and other contextual measurements is described. These environmental data streams provide additional diagnostic insight, and metadata for acquired samples. Sample submission, acquisition control, and subsequent data processing are handled seamlessly by SpectralWorks RemoteAnalyzer software through an intuitive touch-screen and web-based
interface that requires minimal user training.
Experimental
Portable LC – SmartLC 200-600nm HPLC UV detector (PolyLC Inc. Columbia USA)
• Stationary Phase: PolyHYDROXYETHYL ATM
• Mobile Phase: 10 mM ammonium formate, pH 3.0, 65% Acetonitrile (Isocratic)
• Column: 100 mm x 2.1 mm, 3μm particle size, 60 Å pore size
• Flow rate: 0.2 mL/min
• UV Detection: 225 nm
•Splitter: 100:1 to reduce flow rate to the MS
Field Deployable Ion Trap MS – MTE30 (MassTech Inc, Columbia USA)
• Ionization: ESI
• Scan Mode: MS Low
• Voltage: 2.2 kV
• Automatic Gain Control: On
• Resolution: 2000
•Microscans: 5
•Scan Range: m/z 140 – 300
System Suitability Sample (SST) – H-Gly-Ser-OH Dipeptide (500 ppm in mobile phase), m/z 163
Figure 2 shows the real time instrument telemetry, including system and environmental conditions for the instrument during operation.
System Suitability Samples – Laboratory
To establish the baseline functionality of the system, daily samples (SST) were acquired over a two week period. This provided the basis for the expected performance in the field.
System Suitability Samples – Field
Five river locations were selected for daily sampling (Figure 3). System Suitability samples were run at the start and end of the working day. The performance of the system in the field was checked immediately against the established performance in the laboratory.
Results
Figure 4 shows the SST results for both the Laboratory and the Field samples. The daily laboratory results from the peak area of the extracted ion chromatogram of m/z 163 were used to create a quality control chart for peak areas as well as retention time. Warning (2 x SD) and Action Limits (3 x SD) are shown for the peak areas, with a CV of 22.099%, and an MS peak symmetry consistently over 80% are shown in Figure 5.
Conclusions
Using a simple dipeptide standard, a portable LC-MS platform can support a system suitability workflow to allow non-expert field personnel to effectively monitor instrument performance. The workflow links established laboratory performance with the challenging conditions in the field. Additional environmental data may prove useful in determining accuracy and validity of field-based data.
Figure 6 shows a typical sample history page which details sample information and conditions that are automatically tracked without user intervention.
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