Produce Results up to 4x Faster - Agilent StreamSelect LC/MS system

Significance of the Topic

Modern laboratories face growing sample volumes and demand faster LC/MS analyses without increasing capital investment or footprint.
Multiplexing liquid chromatography streams into a single mass spectrometer maximizes detector utilization, ensures continuous operation, and maintains data quality.

Objectives and Study Overview

This whitepaper presents the Agilent StreamSelect LC/MS system, designed to:

• Connect up to four LC systems to one mass spectrometer
• Boost throughput by 2–4× compared to conventional single‐stream setups
• Implement seamless error handling to prevent sample loss
• Facilitate easy method transfer and rapid adoption

Methodology and Instrumentation

The core StreamSelect configuration comprises:

• StreamSelect CTC autosampler with up to four injection ports
• Agilent 1260 Infinity II binary pumps or 1290 Infinity II high‐speed pumps with multicolumn thermostats
• Agilent 6400 Series triple quadrupole LC/MS system
• MassHunter StreamSelect software for automated scheduling, pressure monitoring, and intelligent error recovery
• Optional online cleanup modules (trap‐and‐elute or elution loop) and additional Infinity II quaternary/flex pumps with switching valves

Main Results and Discussion

Key performance highlights include:

• Throughput gains of 2×, 3×, or 4× by staggering injections across multiple LC streams, virtually eliminating MS idle time
• Automatic redirection of samples when an LC channel fails, ensuring no dropped runs
• Consistent quantitative performance across all streams demonstrated by ADMA/SDMA analyses with calibration curves (R²>0.999) and retention time RSD ≤5% over 600 injections
• Intuitive console displaying real‐time LC status, MS chromatograms, and batch queues

Benefits and Practical Applications

The StreamSelect system delivers:

• Significant cost savings by leveraging a single mass spectrometer for multiple LC methods
• Reduced laboratory footprint and capital expenses
• Enhanced uptime and stability for unattended, high‐volume workflows
• Rapid deployment using existing Agilent LC/MS methods

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions may include expanded multiplexing capacity beyond four channels, deeper software‐driven method optimization, integration with advanced sample preparation platforms, and real‐time data analytics to further streamline high‐throughput workflows.

Conclusion

The Agilent StreamSelect LC/MS system offers a robust, scalable solution for high‐throughput laboratories, combining parallel LC streams, intelligent error handling, and familiar Agilent instrumentation to deliver faster results, lower costs, and uninterrupted operation.