SureSTART collection

Importance of the topic

High-quality sample containers are a foundational element of modern analytical workflows. Proper consumables minimize adsorption, extractables and leachables, supporting reliable quantification of low-level analytes and ensuring regulatory compliance in pharmaceutical, environmental and industrial laboratories.

Objectives and study overview

This document presents the Thermo Scientific SureSTART collection, a comprehensive range of autosampler vials and well plates engineered to meet diverse chromatographic and mass spectrometric requirements. The collection is organized into three performance levels—everyday analysis, high-throughput and high-performance—to address cost, robustness and sensitivity needs.

Methodology and used instrumentation

The SureSTART products are manufactured under ISO 9001 guidelines, employing clean-room assembly and in-line opto-electronic dimensional inspection. Glass components meet USP and EP Type 1 A borosilicate standards, while well plates use chemically and thermally resistant polymers.

• Chromatography platforms: GC, HPLC and UHPLC.
• Detection modes: UV/Vis, PDA, RI, ELSD, FLD, FID, NPD, ECD, TCD, FPD and MS (single-quad, triple-quad, HRAM Orbitrap).
• Closure technologies: AVCS™ (advanced vial closure system), SureStop™ for solvent-resistant sealing and Thermo Polyspring™ inserts.

Main results and discussion

Performance level 1 (one wave) delivers cost-optimized vials and caps suitable for routine chromatography with validated sample security. Level 2 (two waves) offers reduced metal content and extractables for regulated, high-throughput assays. Level 3 (three waves) provides trace-level adsorption control, gold-grade glass and certified sample integrity for demanding MS applications. Packaging formats range from 100 to 5 000 vials per lot, with consistent product-to-product and lot-to-lot reproducibility.

Benefits and practical applications

SureSTART consumables allow laboratories to:

• Tailor vial selection by performance level to balance budget and sensitivity.
• Streamline SOPs by using wave indicators for application-specific compliance.
• Maintain data quality through low-adsorption glass and inert septa, reducing background interferences.
• Enhance workflow reliability via rigorous end-of-line quality control and certified batch documentation.

Future trends and potential applications

Advances are expected in automated consumable tracking, integrated barcoding and robotics-compatible well plates. Emerging surface coatings and polymer formulations will further decrease background chemistry, extending capabilities in metabolomics, proteomics and trace-level environmental monitoring.

Conclusion

The Thermo Scientific SureSTART collection offers a structured approach to selecting vial and well plate consumables. By aligning performance levels with analytical demands, laboratories can achieve consistent, reproducible results, meet regulatory standards and optimize costs across routine to high-end mass spectrometry applications.

Reference

• Thermo Fisher Scientific. SureSTART collection whitepaper FL000539-EN 0122M, 2022.