Meeting EU Drinking Water Standards: The Critical Role of Sample Prep in Trace Contaminant Analysis

<p><strong>Although modern agriculture needs to be based on accurate real-time data on soil, plant, and environmental conditions, affordable, sufficiently sensitive, and robust monitoring devices for this purpose are currently missing. According to scientists, low-cost sensors based on new smart materials and printing technologies offer a suitable solution. The results of multidisciplinary research thus far and proposals for the development of these devices have been presented by researchers from Czechia, Great Britain, Spain, and the USA in a review article in the prestigious journal </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68778-6#Abs1"><i><strong>Nature Communications</strong></i></a><strong>.</strong></p><p>“<i>Sensor technologies for monitoring plant health are still in their infancy. Only simple sensors capable of monitoring basic parameters such as pH, soil moisture, or temperature are commonly available on the market. However, if farmers are to face current challenges, including climate change, and ensure sufficient food for humanity, they need much more effective tools that will enable them to monitor, for example, various pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. In our opinion, a suitable solution is a combination of new smart materials and printing for the production of inexpensive, durable, and scalable materials</i>,” said the article’s first author, <strong>David Panáček</strong> from CATRIN, who worked on the study during his internship at Imperial College London.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CATRIN_Soucasne_senzory_nestaci_Vedci_navrhuji_novou_cestu_ke_sledovani_zdravi_rostlin_b4014952a3.jpg" alt="CATRIN: David Panáček" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CATRIN_Soucasne_senzory_nestaci_Vedci_navrhuji_novou_cestu_ke_sledovani_zdravi_rostlin_b4014952a3.jpg 208w," sizes="100vw" width="1536" height="1152"></p><p>Sensors for monitoring plant health, for example, lag behind similar devices used in human medicine. According to the authors, advances in materials science, which will enable the development of scalable sensor technologies, play a key role in this potential shift. “<i>Printing techniques, including inkjet printing, screen printing, aerosol printing, 3D printing, and direct laser writing, offer flexible ways to produce flexible sensors, large-area sensors, and sensors integrated directly into plants. The review article summarizes recent advances in printable low-dimensional materials for agricultural sensors, analyzes their physico-chemical properties in relation to sensor performance, and discusses key challenges and future opportunities requiring interdisciplinary integration</i>,” said one of the corresponding authors, <strong>Michal Otyepka</strong>.</p><p>The research brought together materials scientists, chemists, biologists, sensing experts, and printing technology specialists. Materials research and the use of graphene-based smart materials were led by scientists from CATRIN at Palacký University and VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava. Plant biologists from CATRIN contributed their knowledge of plant development, their responses to stress conditions, and the monitoring of their properties. Researchers from Imperial College London took care of the electronics, while representatives from<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/companies/36"><strong> CEITEC – VUT</strong></a> focused on printing technologies. The team also included leading experts in sensing from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Barcelona, and Joseph Wang of the University of California San Diego, the “father of sensing and electrochemistry,” also contributed his extensive knowledge.</p><p>“<i>This is a groundbreaking study on this topic, which has managed to attract some truly big names in their respective fields. Last but not least, the study demonstrates that interdisciplinarity at CATRIN gives rise to completely new and promising research topics, such as plant sensing and its use for studying plant-environment interactions and smart agriculture,</i>” added another corresponding author, <strong>Nuria De Diego</strong>.</p>

Current sensors are not good enough. Scientists propose a new way to monitor plant health

<p><strong>In this episode of the Concentrating on Chromatography podcast, host David Oliva interviews Ainslie Chen about her cutting-edge research on hemoglobin variant testing using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS). Ainslie discusses her novel method for separating and identifying hemoglobin subunits with mass shifts less than 1 Da, overcoming critical limitations in conventional clinical assays.</strong></p><p>Hear firsthand how her team developed an LC-HR-MS workflow using a C4 reversed-phase column, tackled technical challenges (including why C18 columns fell short), and achieved unprecedented sensitivity for variant detection in both adult and neonatal samples. The conversation touches on the potential of mass spectrometry to revolutionize clinical diagnostics, the importance of reproducibility, barriers to adoption in routine labs, and how teamwork drives scientific innovation.</p><p>Perfect for analytical chemists, clinical laboratorians, and anyone interested in the future of protein variant analysis, this episode also features Ainslie’s advice for early-career scientists and insights from her first ACS poster presentation.</p><h4><strong>Key Highlights:</strong></h4><ul><li>Motivation behind improving hemoglobinopathy testing &nbsp;</li><li>Technical advantages of LC-HR-MS over gene sequencing and CE &nbsp;</li><li>The crucial role of the C4 column in resolving challenging samples &nbsp;</li><li>Critical parameters for reproducible LC-HR-MS workflows &nbsp;</li><li>Barriers and outlook for clinical adoption of advanced mass spectrometry &nbsp;</li><li>The value of teamwork and mentorship in scientific research &nbsp;</li><li>Direct insights from recent ACS conference experiences</li></ul><h3><strong>Video transcription</strong></h3><p>In this interview, <strong>Ainslie Chen</strong> discusses her research on improving the detection and identification of hemoglobin variants using <strong>liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)</strong>. The work addresses limitations of conventional hemoglobinopathy testing, which often struggles to resolve very small mass differences between closely related hemoglobin subunits. Because even a single amino-acid substitution can significantly alter hemoglobin structure and function, high analytical resolution is essential for accurate diagnosis of conditions such as anemia and sickle cell disease.</p><p>Chen explains why her team selected LC-HRMS over established clinical techniques like <strong>capillary electrophoresis</strong> and <strong>gene sequencing</strong>. While sequencing offers excellent accuracy, it is time-consuming, costly, and requires extensive sample preparation, making it impractical for routine clinical workflows. Capillary electrophoresis enables subunit separation but lacks the resolving power needed to distinguish variants differing by less than one Dalton. In contrast, high-resolution mass spectrometry provides both structural specificity and sensitivity, enabling confident identification of subtle hemoglobin variants with minimal sample preparation.</p><p>A key methodological insight from the project was the use of a <strong>C4 reversed-phase LC column</strong> instead of the more common C18 column. Chen describes how the shorter carbon chain and larger pore size of C4 columns improved protein elution and reduced denaturation, leading to more reproducible separations. Critical parameters for reproducibility included consistent mobile-phase composition (0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile), controlled temperature (60 °C for LC, ~320 °C capillary temperature), and stable chromatographic conditions.</p><p>Beyond hemoglobin analysis, Chen highlights the broader potential of high-resolution mass spectrometry in <strong>proteoform analysis</strong> and clinical diagnostics, including emerging applications in cancer detection. She acknowledges current barriers to clinical adoption—such as energy demands and instrument infrastructure—but points to advances like <strong>miniaturized mass spectrometers</strong> as promising steps toward wider use. The interview concludes with advice for young scientists: don’t hesitate to reach out to mentors, embrace collaboration, and view analytical chemistry as a versatile tool that bridges medicine, biology, environmental science, and beyond.</p><blockquote><p><strong>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</strong></p></blockquote><blockquote><h4><strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</strong></h4><p>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!</p><p>You can find <strong>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast </strong>in podcast apps:</p><ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL"><strong>Spotify</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185"><strong>Apple podcast</strong></a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography"><strong>podscan</strong></a></li></ul><p>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos"><strong>YouTube channel</strong></a></p></blockquote>

Unlocking Hemoglobin Variant Detection: LC-HR-MS Breakthrough with Ainslie Chen

Article

Video

Environment

Scientific article

Interview

Science and research

The Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute (CATRIN) at Palacký University is a cutting-edge scientific hub dedicated to advancing research in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and biomedicine. At its core, CATRIN boasts outstanding scientific teams, featuring international researchers. We emphasize interdisciplinarity, foster global collaborations, and work to translate our research findings into practical applications.

CATRIN

Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

Organomation

Waters Sample & Collection Plate

Waters 96-well and 384-well plates are adherent to ANSI and SBS standards and are suitable for LC autosamplers and liquid handling robots.

<div><div><h4><strong>Broad selection of high-quality sample and collection plates</strong></h4></div></div><div><div><p><strong>Waters 96-well and 384-well plates are adherent to ANSI and SBS standards and are suitable for LC autosamplers and liquid handling robots. Waters plates are made from polypropylene (PP) for chemical resistance, and specialty 96-well plates with glass inserts are available for samples that are not suitable for polypropylene containers.</strong></p><h3><strong>Overview</strong></h3><div><div><div><div><div><div><ul><li>96- and 384-well collection plates and sample plates are SBS/ANSI compliant for robotic compatible systems&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</li><li>&nbsp;Constructed of polypropylene (PP) for chemical resistance</li><li>&nbsp;Glass inserts available for samples requiring glass surfaces</li><li>&nbsp;Heat seals and cap mats for plates and glass inserts</li></ul></div></div><div><div><h4><strong>Recommended Use</strong></h4><p>For general high-throughput LC and LC-MS work and for integration in (semi)-automated sample handling workflows.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/img_Waters_Sample_and_Collection_Plate_709693fdab.jpg" alt="imgWaters Sample &amp; Collection Plate." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_img_Waters_Sample_and_Collection_Plate_709693fdab.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="493"></p><h3><strong>Cap Mats</strong></h3><h4><strong>Silicone/PTFE &amp; Polypropylene Cap Mats</strong></h4><ul><li>Non-slit storage mats for long-term sample storage</li><li>Pre-slit silicone/PTFE and polypropylene cap mats for use in autosamplers for proper venting and sample draw accuracy with excellent resealing characteristics</li><li>Silicone/PTFE &amp; Polypropylene Cap Mats</li></ul><h3><strong>Heat Seals</strong></h3><h4><strong>Clear Polyester Heat Seals</strong></h4><ul><li>Can be used with most solvents &amp; buffers over a -80 °C to 80 °C temperature range</li><li>Requires a heat sealer to apply</li></ul><h4><strong>Aluminum Foil Heat Seals</strong></h4><ul><li>Made from a polyester/aluminum laminate</li><li>Ideal choice for long term storage to reduce evaporative loss</li><li>Aluminum layer reduces gas permeability of the seal</li><li>Can be used at temperatures from -200 °C to 90 °C</li><li>Requires a heat sealer to apply</li></ul><h4><strong>Adhesive Seals</strong></h4><ul><li>A polyolefin film with synthetic rubber adhesive</li><li>Ideal for use with protein and peptide samples and buffers</li><li>Resistant to small concentrations (0% to 30%) of polar organic solvents</li><li>Can be used at temperatures from -80 °C to 80 °C</li><li>Requires a heat sealer to apply</li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Waters CERTIFIED HPLC Vials

Reducing failed assays from unknown contaminant peaks and limiting instrument downtime from out of specification vials is a priority for your lab. Waters sample vials can help you do just that.

<div><div><h4><strong>Meet your analytical challenges with the right vial.</strong></h4></div></div><div><div><p><strong>The right vial.&nbsp;</strong><span><strong>A world of difference.</strong></span></p><p>Reducing failed assays from unknown contaminant peaks and limiting instrument downtime from out of specification vials is a priority for your lab. Waters sample vials can help you do just that.</p><p>All Waters sample vials are held to the tightest dimensional tolerances. Manufactured via a 2-, 3-, or 4-step certification process, we ensure that Waters Certified Vials meet and maintain specified vial dimensions, levels of cleanliness and adsorption properties from batch to batch.&nbsp;Find the right vial for your application and autosampler - use our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://find.waters.com/VialSelector/"><strong>Vial Selector</strong></a> to find your perfect match.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_118649175c.jpg" alt="Waters CERTIFIED Vials: Table 1. Vials for Routine and Advanced Analyses." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_118649175c.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1226" height="754"></p><h3><strong>Waters LCMS CERTIFIED</strong></h3><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>Dimensional Test</p><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>Septum GC Test</p><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>HPLC UV Test</p><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>MS Scan</p><ul><li>Low MS interferences from known residues &amp; polymers</li><li>For routine QC and LC-MS analysis with lower analyte concentrations from 10-100s ng/ml.</li></ul><h3><strong>Waters TruView<sup>TM</sup> LCMS CERTIFIED</strong></h3><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>Dimensional Test</p><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>Septum GC Test</p><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>HPLC UV Test</p><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>MS Scan</p><p><span><strong>✅&nbsp;</strong></span>Low Adsorption Test</p><div><div><ul><li>Lowest MS interferences from known residues &amp; polymers</li><li>For high-end LC-MS analysis and quantification of analytes with a concentration of below 1 ng/ml with reduced adsorption of polar analytes.</li></ul><h3><strong>Waters CERTIFIED</strong></h3><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>Dimensional Test</p><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>Septum GC Test</p><p><span><strong>✅ </strong></span>HPLC UV Test</p><div><div><ul><li>No UV interferences caused caused by manufacturing and packaging residues</li><li>For routine QC LC-UV analysis&nbsp;of compounds in µg/mL&nbsp;concentrations.&nbsp;</li></ul><h3><strong>MAXPEAK QuanRecovery</strong></h3><ul><li>For high recovery peptide and protein quantification workflows. Reduces sample losses due to non-specific binding (NSB) and ionic interactions.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_2_4fba532335.jpg" alt="Waters CERTIFIED Vials: Vials Shapes." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_2_4fba532335.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1261" height="617"></p><div><div><h3><strong>Control data quality risks and reduce unexpected or ghost peaks</strong></h3><p>Don’t let the presence of background noise impact your results, causing data quality risks and unexpected or ghost peaks. Background noise can come from many factors.&nbsp;One of the most important factors are vial and septa cleanliness, which introduces contamination peaks. Ghost peaks are introduced by analyte degradation that can be triggered by significant pH changes in the diluent. In this chromatogram, the top shows normal behavior, and the bottom chromatogram shows ghost peaks.</p><p>Waters Certified vials are cleanliness tested so you don’t have to worry about contaminant peaks. The TruView pH Control Vials are certified to minimize and control a pH shift away from the neutral.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_4_7749301ba1.jpg" alt="Waters CERTIFIED Vials: Prevent the appearance of unexpected peaks during LC/UV analysis with Waters LC/GC Certified Vials as a control strategy." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_4_7749301ba1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="535"></p><h3><strong>More time on development. Less on troubleshooting</strong></h3><p>Stop losing valuable development time on troubleshooting due to analyte loss from non-specific adsorption. Waters TruView pH Control LCMS Certified Vials have the lowest adsorptive losses on the market, and you can rely on them to provide consistency from batch to batch and vial to vial. This chromatogram shows a comparison of adsorptive loss of chlorhexidine in a variety of vials.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_5_d3e42fa7f2.jpg" alt="Waters CERTIFIED Vials: Comparison of adsorptive loss of chlorhexidine acetate in a variety of vials." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_5_d3e42fa7f2.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="633"></p><div><div><h3><strong>Ideal for demanding MS work</strong></h3><p>LCMS Certified Vials are suited for analyte concentrations in the 100s ng/mL concentration. Waters LCMS Certified Vials are tested by MS scans from 250 to 1000 <i>m/z</i> with specifications set on the total ion count and presence of clusters in the high mass range. This chromatogram shows a comparison of typical MS scans of Waters LCMS Certified Vials to vials of other sources and clean solvents.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_3_4869fbf57a.jpg" alt="Waters CERTIFIED Vials: Comparing typical MS scans of Waters LCMS Certified Vials, with vials from other sources." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_3_4869fbf57a.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="406"></p><div><div><h3><strong>Stay in control of your samples' pH</strong></h3><p>The analysis of low abundance species, pH sensitive analytes or not yet well understood compound mixtures benefit from consistent and well controlled vial surfaces. The glass surface of TruView pH Control LCMS Certified Vials minimizes pH shifts away from the neutral and thus eliminates unwanted reactions and resulting ghost peaks.&nbsp;Ghost peaks are very difficult to troubleshoot.</p><p>Waters TruView pH Control LCMS Certified vials were used to analyze two compounds, drospirenone and lovastatin. The TruView pH Control LCMS Certified Vials show little to no degradant formed over the time tested. Standard glass vials showed considerable degradant formation over the same testing time with irreproducible formation of the degradant across different vials.&nbsp;</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_6_4dc330d849.jpg" alt="Waters CERTIFIED Vials: UV peak areas of lovastatin degradant across replicate vials and different vial types. Error bars indicate standard deviation for the replicate injection peak area." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_6_4dc330d849.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="605"></p><div><div><h3><strong>Reducing adsorption starts here</strong></h3><p>Inconsistent analytical results from small molecule analyte adsorption onto the surface of glass vials can be a problem at today’s low analyte concentrations. Some scientists have even experienced total analyte loss with samples stored in vials for an extended time. The vial chemistry, specifically the&nbsp;glass surface, is the major contributor to this problem.</p><p>Polar analytes&nbsp;may adsorb to the glass vial surface by polar-polar interaction and/or ion exchange mechanisms, thereby reducing the overall amount of sample in solution. TruView Certified LCMS Vials&nbsp;reduce this problem dramatically due to a stringent manufacturing process. The process yields a glass surface that has a lower concentration of free ions on the surface.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_8_064003b933.jpg" alt="Waters CERTIFIED Vials: Nortriptyline at 1 ppb concentration in several vials. The tall peak is the initial injection; the smaller peak (overlaid) is the four-hour injection. The first two chromatograms are competitor’s vials. The third chromatogram is for the Waters TruView LCMS Certified vial. " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Waters_CERTIFIED_Vials_8_064003b933.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1912" height="1182"></p><div><div><h3><strong>No analyte left behind</strong></h3><p>Instrument development is yielding more sensitive mass spectrometers. With more sensitive instruments, analytes can be detected at pg/mL levels. At these concentrations, understanding adsorption issues is critical for good quantitative results. We tested adsorption loss for the major manufacturers and saw high sample loss across manufacturers and clear and amber glass types – with significantly less loss with Waters TruView Autosampler Vials.</p><h4><strong>Average Analyte Loss</strong></h4><p><strong>Manufacturer: Clear Glass / Amber Glass</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Vendor A</strong>: 55% / 69%</li><li><strong>Vendor B</strong>: 25% / 25%</li><li><strong>Vendor C</strong>: 54% / 74%</li><li><strong>Vendor D</strong>: 18% / 59%</li><li><strong>Vendor E</strong>: 75% / Not tested</li><li><strong>Waters TruView LCMS Certified Vial</strong>: 1% / 6%</li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Products from category Consumables focused on Consumables - page 1

Related content

Unlocking Hemoglobin Variant Detection: LC-HR-MS Breakthrough with Ainslie Chen

Current sensors are not good enough. Scientists propose a new way to monitor plant health

Meeting EU Drinking Water Standards: The Critical Role of Sample Prep in Trace Contaminant Analysis