Transcend UHPLC Systems - Accelerate your science

Significance of Transcend UHPLC Systems

The Thermo Scientific Transcend series addresses critical demands in high-throughput liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS).
By combining multichannel UHPLC with advanced on-line sample cleanup, these systems accelerate analysis in fields such as drug discovery, clinical research, environmental testing, and food safety.
They optimize mass spectrometer utilization, reduce sample preparation time, and improve data quality and sensitivity.

Objectives and Study Overview

This whitepaper describes the design, performance, and application of Transcend UHPLC systems, focusing on:

• Multichannel configurations (2- or 4-channel) for enhanced throughput.
• Integration with TurboFlow technology for on-line cleanup of complex matrices.
• Instrument control via Aria MX software.
• Compatibility with a range of mass spectrometers, including TSQ triple quadrupoles and Orbitrap platforms.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The Transcend family comprises LX, VLX, and TLX systems with independent binary or quaternary pumps and CTC TriPlus autosamplers.

• VLX-2 and LX-4 systems offer two or four parallel UHPLC channels with interleaved injections to maximize MS duty cycle.
• TLX systems incorporate TurboFlow columns for rapid on-line solid-phase extraction based on size exclusion and reversed-phase retention.
• Aria MX software orchestrates pump control, valve switching, and sample handling across channels.
• System integration demonstrated with Thermo Scientific TSQ Fortis Plus, TSQ Quantis, TSQ Altis triple quadrupoles, and Orbitrap Exploris series.

Key Results and Discussion

Throughput gains and analytical performance were evaluated in multiple applications:

• Immunosuppressant quantification (tacrolimus, everolimus, sirolimus, cyclosporin A) in whole blood achieved cycle times as low as 15 seconds per injection, producing linear calibration (R²>0.99) on a TLX-2 system with TSQ Quantis.
• Pesticide analysis in green tea compared conventional SPE (20 samples/day) and QuEChERS (50 samples/day) with TurboFlow-enabled TLX-4 (267 samples/day), illustrating an order-of-magnitude increase in daily throughput.
• Targeted proteomics for SARS-CoV-2 peptides demonstrated retention time and peak area reproducibility across 500 respiratory swab samples per day on a TLX-4 system interfaced with a high-resolution mass spectrometer.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Transcend UHPLC systems deliver:

• Up to fourfold increase in sample throughput without sacrificing sensitivity or robustness.
• Automated, reproducible on-line cleanup of complex biological and environmental matrices.
• Flexible operation: run identical or distinct methods across multiple channels simultaneously.
• Improved return on investment through reduced labor, solvent use, and instrument idle time.
• Seamless software integration for simplified method development and batch management.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Continued evolution in UHPLC–MS workflows will focus on:

• Expanded multichannel architectures and multiplexed detection modes.
• Integration with AI-driven method optimization and real-time quality monitoring.
• Broader adoption of on-line sample preparation for emerging analytes and matrices.
• Enhanced compatibility with next-generation mass analyzers and data processing platforms.
• Miniaturization and remote operation capabilities for distributed laboratory networks.

Conclusion

Thermo Scientific Transcend UHPLC systems combine multichannel chromatography, TurboFlow on-line cleanup, and intuitive software to streamline high-throughput LC–MS analyses.
They deliver superior productivity, data quality, and flexibility for a wide range of applications, setting a new standard for automated, reliable, and scalable analytical workflows.

Reference

Cardozo K.H.M., Lebkuchen A., Okai G.G. et al. Establishing a mass spectrometry-based system for rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 in large clinical sample cohorts. Nat Commun 11, 6201 (2020).