GC-MS/MS
Gas chromatography is a separation technique for volatile or non-polar compounds. Tandem mass spectrometry is a detection technique that ionizes and fragments molecules. Both precursor and product ions are measured which increases the specificity and selectivity of this detection technique.
The Toxicological Centre has three GC-MS/MS instruments:
- An Agilent 7890B GC, equipped with a 7693 autosampler, coupled to a 7000C GC/TQ
- An Agilent 7890A GC, equipped with a 7693 autosampler, coupled to a 7000 GC/TQ (Reserved for Forensic Toxicology exclusively)
- An Agilent 8890 GC, equipped with a 7693A autosampler, coupled to a 7000D GC/TQ
The GC-MS/MS instrument is operated for the analysis of complex matrices or analytes present in very low amounts. Both chemical ionization (negative and positive) and electron impact ionization are used on these instruments.
