At MSACL 2025, a Thermo Fisher Scientific–sponsored workshop led by Qin Fu addressed one of the most persistent challenges in proteomics: how to efficiently and reproducibly translate biomarker discoveries into clinically meaningful assays. Drawing on experience spanning academia and industry—including prior work in Jennifer Van Eyk’s lab—Fu shared practical insights into building a scalable, end-to-end biomarker discovery-to-validation pipeline.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Accelerating_Biomarker_Discovery_and_Validation_From_Discovery_to_Clinical_Utility_9558364cf2.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Accelerating Biomarker Discovery and Validation: From Discovery to Clinical Utility" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Accelerating_Biomarker_Discovery_and_Validation_From_Discovery_to_Clinical_Utility_9558364cf2.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="512">The session highlighted how emerging mass spectrometry technologies, automation, and informatics are reshaping biomarker research—reducing complexity, improving reproducibility, and accelerating the path to clinical utility.<h3>The three tiers of biomarker assays</h3>The workshop opened with a review of the widely accepted three-tier framework that guides biomarker development from early discovery through clinical validation:<h4>Tier 3 – discovery</h4>Exploratory, untargeted workflows such as data-dependent acquisition (DDA) and data-independent acquisition (DIA). These approaches prioritize breadth, enabling the identification of large-magnitude biological changes across hundreds to thousands of analytes, typically with low-to-moderate precision and without internal standards.<h4>Tier 2 – verification</h4>Research-grade targeted assays, including parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). These methods focus on tens to hundreds of analytes, delivering improved precision and repeatability to confirm trends observed during discovery.<h4>Tier 1 – validation</h4>Clinically validated assays designed to meet rigorous quality and regulatory standards. These workflows incorporate internal standards and strict quality controls to ensure quantitative reproducibility suitable for clinical and translational use.Each tier represents a critical step toward ensuring that biomarker candidates can ultimately deliver reliable patient benefit.<h3>The central challenge: from sample to signal</h3>Reliable biomarker development depends on consistency across the entire analytical workflow—from biological sample preparation to mass spectrometry data acquisition and downstream analysis. Every step introduces potential sources of variability, and minimizing this analytical noise while preserving biological signal is essential.Automation emerged as a central theme of the workshop. Beyond improving throughput, automation fundamentally enhances reproducibility. Robotic sample preparation reduces variability associated with digestion, pipetting, and handling—enabling consistent performance across hundreds or thousands of samples, a scale that is difficult to achieve manually.<h3>Technological innovation powering a paradigm shift</h3>Recent advances in mass spectrometry are enabling researchers to bridge the gap between discovery and validation more efficiently than ever before. The workshop highlighted several Thermo Fisher Scientific platforms driving this shift:<ul><li>Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer Optimized for discovery workflows, the Astral system delivers rapid acquisition and deep proteome coverage while maintaining high precision across large cohorts.</li><li>Thermo Scientific Stellar platform Designed for high-throughput targeted quantification, the Stellar platform supports scalable PRM workflows. Features such as PRM Conductor enable adaptive retention time tracking, which is essential for robust performance in large studies.</li><li>Thermo Scientific OptaSpray Ion Source (under evaluation) A hands-free ionization source designed to deliver consistent spray performance with simplified maintenance, supporting reproducibility across thousands of injections.</li></ul>Together, these technologies create a smoother continuum across assay tiers, shortening timelines and reducing barriers to clinical translation.<h3>Case study: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cohort</h3>A key highlight of the presentation was a large-scale biomarker study in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The team conducted a 500-sample discovery analysis, followed by validation in a 1,000-sample cohort. Discovery was performed using the Orbitrap Astral system, while targeted validation employed the Stellar platform.This integrated approach successfully confirmed established biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) while also identifying novel protein candidates with strong translational potential. Importantly, these markers demonstrated consistency across discovery and validation data sets—underscoring the power of advanced instrumentation combined with robust workflows and informatics.<h3>From high quantity to high quality</h3>Historically, biomarker discovery has involved a tradeoff between throughput and data quality. The workshop demonstrated that this compromise is no longer necessary. By integrating automated sample preparation, optimized informatics, and next-generation mass spectrometry, researchers can now generate high-quality, high-throughput data that is both scalable and reproducible.This shift enables faster discovery while increasing confidence that candidate biomarkers are ready for downstream validation and clinical follow-up.<h3>The future of biomarker translation</h3>The workshop concluded on an optimistic note. Innovations in proteomics are fundamentally transforming biomarker development—shortening timelines, reducing costs, and accelerating the transition from discovery to clinical application.By integrating platforms such as Orbitrap Astral, Stellar, and OptaSpray, Thermo Fisher Scientific is helping advance a new era of translational biomarker science—where precision, scalability, and reliability work together to deliver meaningful clinical impact.Watch the full workshop recording to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziyffQzZTwk">explore the data, workflows, and results behind this end-to-end approach to biomarker discovery and validation.</a><h3>Intended use disclaimer</h3>General Laboratory Equipment – Not For Diagnostic Procedures. Thermo Scientific general laboratory equipment, consumables, and software are intended for research, academic, and industrial use only. These products are not designed, validated, or approved for in vitro diagnostic or clinical use. Use of these products for diagnostic purposes may result in inaccurate results and potential health and safety risks.<h3>Resources</h3>Workshop &amp; educational content<ul><li>MSACL 2025 workshop recording: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziyffQzZTwk">Accelerating Biomarker Discovery and Validation</a></li><li>Other MSACL workshop recordings coming soon</li></ul>Thermo Fisher Scientific Product Pages<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/2207">Thermo Scientific TSQ Certis Mass Spectrometer</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/836">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral Mass Spectrometer</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1149">Thermo Scientific Stellar Mass Spectrometer</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/B51004132">Thermo Scientific OptaSpray Ion Source</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/content/lifetech/global/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/mass-spectrometer-price-affordability-programs.html">Mass spectrometer affordability programs</a> (Refurbished MS, trade-in, financing/ leasing)</li></ul>Peer-Reviewed Literature<ul><li>Baker ES et al. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://europepmc.org/article/MED/22943415">Mass spectrometry for translational proteomics: progress and clinical implications.</a> Genome Medicine (2012).</li><li>Fu Q et al. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://academic.oup.com/clinchem/article/62/1/198/5611803">An Empirical Approach to Signature Peptide Choice for Selected Reaction Monitoring.</a> Clinical Chemistry (2016).</li><li>Fu Q et al. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1002/mas.21750">Automated proteomic sample preparation: The key component for high throughput and quantitative mass spectrometry analysis.</a> Mass Spectrometry Reviews (2023).</li><li>Fu Q et al. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00623">Highly Reproducible Automated Proteomics Sample Preparation Workflow for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry.</a> Journal of Proteome Research (2018).</li><li>Fu Q et al. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202409446">A Proteomics Pipeline for Generating Clinical Grade Biomarker Candidates from DIA-MS Discovery.</a> Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2024).</li><li>Fu Q et al. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202507610">Development and Clinical Evaluation of a Multiplexed Health Surveillance Panel Using Ultra High-Throughput PRM-MS in an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort.</a> Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2025).</li></ul><blockquote>Visit us on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/72003132/admin/dashboard/">LinkedIn:</a>&nbsp;#Omics #BiomarkerDiscovery #MassSpectrometry #ClinicalResearch</blockquote>

Accelerating Biomarker Discovery and Validation: From Discovery to Clinical Utility

Interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) have been used for more than a century and many important concepts are linked to them. This leaflet addresses the basic terminology of ILCs, why some colloquial terms can be misleading or misunderstood, and the importance of harmonisation.&nbsp;An ‘ILC’ is the organisation, performance and evaluation of measurements or tests on the same or similar items by two or more laboratories in accordance with predetermined conditions [1]. ILCs have a variety of overall – and detailed – objectives, the three most common [2] being:<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Let_s_call_a_PT_scheme_a_PT_scheme_3_9993b9fb0f.jpg" alt="Eurachem: Let’s call a PT scheme a PT scheme" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Let_s_call_a_PT_scheme_a_PT_scheme_3_9993b9fb0f.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1516" height="472"><h4>Some comparisons have special names&nbsp;</h4>The evaluation of participant (laboratory, organisation or individual) performance is typically referred to as ‘proficiency testing’ (PT) or ‘external quality assessment’ [1]. When the main objective is evaluating the performance of, for example, a candidate standard method, the ILC is often called a ‘method performance study’ or a ‘collaborative study’ [2, 3]. The former is quite clear whereas wording such as “collaborative” and “cooperative” just stresses joint effort. A project aimed at producing a new certified reference material may involve several laboratories conducting analyses on agreed properties [4]. Not surprisingly, this work is sometimes labelled as a ‘material certification study’. Special ILCs used to demonstrate measurement capabilities of National Metrology Institutes are called ‘key comparisons’, ‘supplementary comparisons’, and ‘pilot studies’ [5].&nbsp;<h4>Some terms can be confusing&nbsp;</h4>Other terms for ILCs, including ‘ring test’, ‘round robin’ and ‘circle analysis’, are common in the literature. They have, however, been used for different objectives and different designs and may be ambiguous or understood differently by laboratory staff. The use of these terms may, for example, imply a specific way of distributing the ILC sample. ISO/IEC 17043 uses ‘sequential scheme’, for a PT where a unique item is transferred between the participants and ‘simultaneous scheme’, in which similar items from a batch are distributed simultaneously to the participants [1].&nbsp;Terms like ‘measurement audit’, ‘interlaboratory testing scheme’, ‘measurement comparison scheme’, ‘rapid performance evaluation scheme’ and ‘intercalibration’ may not correctly reflect the category of laboratory involved, or the type of work participants do during the ILC.&nbsp;When in 1994 the IUPAC defined and described three major types of ‘interlaboratory studies’, the word ‘study’ was preferred to synonyms such as ‘trial’, ‘exercise’, ‘test’, ‘evaluation’ or ‘check’ [2].<h4>Let’s try to harmonise&nbsp;</h4>Many laboratory staff are unaware of official terms related to ILCs but recognise the acronym PT and words like ‘ring test’. Ideally, we would use a common scientific language, but harmonisation is time consuming. Terms appear and disappear and definitions change. The same term can be defined differently, even in different international standards. Lack of standards and guidelines in local languages can cause confusion and contribute to spreading of less appropriate terms.&nbsp;<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Let_s_call_a_PT_scheme_a_PT_scheme_2_820043ce8b.jpg" alt="Eurachem: Let’s call a PT scheme a PT scheme" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Let_s_call_a_PT_scheme_a_PT_scheme_2_820043ce8b.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="1006" height="671">Much confusion can be avoided by clear reference to relevant standards and sectoral guides. ISO/ IEC 17043 [1] and ISO 13528 [6] contain many important concepts related to PT schemes and other ILCs. Some of these are also incorporated into ISO/IEC 17025 [7]. Additional useful, and free, tools are the Eurachem PT Guide [8] and the ISO online browsing platform [9].&nbsp;In writing guidance and instructions, remember that the term ‘interlaboratory comparison’ has a broad meaning and can be used for all cases described above. Sometimes this is clear enough for the reader. In other cases, use acknowledged terms that reflect the detailed objective of the ILC. Let’s call a PT scheme a PT scheme!

Let’s call a PT scheme a PT scheme!

The countdown is on for one of the world’s leading conferences dedicated to food analysis. The 12th International Symposium on Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA 2026), taking place in Prague from 3–6 November 2026, is approaching two important milestones: the Early Bird registration deadline and the deadline for oral abstract submissions, both ending on 30 June 2026. Researchers, analysts, industry professionals, regulators, and students are encouraged to secure their participation at a reduced registration rate and take advantage of the opportunity to present their latest scientific results to the international food analysis community.RAFA 2026 will once again bring together leading experts from academia, industry, and regulatory organizations to discuss the latest developments in food safety, authenticity, contaminants, non-target screening, PFAS, microplastics, food contact materials, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytical technologies. The preliminary program already features an outstanding lineup of internationally recognized speakers addressing some of the most pressing challenges in modern food analysis and food safety.<h3>Registration</h3><blockquote>👉<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://rafa.easyevent.eu/tickets/">Register to attend RAFA 2026!</a>Early-bird registration until 30 June, 2026</blockquote>After successful submission of your registration, you will receive by e-mail (i) an automatic confirmation of receipt indicating the total amount of payment due (either for bank transfer or for on-line payment by card), (ii) login to Member section where you can administrate your profile, submit your abstracts, and from September 2026 register for satellite events, workshops and seminars. If it will not be delivered within a few minutes after submission of your registration please contact us at RAFA2026@vscht.cz.As soon as payment of registration fee is processed, you will also receive by e-mail (iii) confirmation of payment.<h4>Registration Fees</h4><ul><li>Smart rate (Until 30 June, 2026): € 655</li><li>Regular registration (Until 30 September, 2026): € 855</li><li>Late registration (From 1 October, 2026): € 955</li><li>Student rate*&nbsp;<ul><li>Until 30 June, 2026: € 465</li><li>From 1 July, 2026: € 605</li></ul></li></ul>* The proof of student status (e.g. copy of a student identify card) is requested as an attachment of the registration form.<h5>The regular registration fee will include:</h5><ul><li>Attendance at all scientific sessions, workshops, seminars, vendor seminars and other satellite events</li><li>Access to the poster and exhibition area</li><li>Conference kit (name badge, conference bag, conference documents, certificate of participation, certificate of presentation on request)</li><li>Final programme</li><li>E-Book of Abstracts</li><li>Coffee breaks</li><li>Buffet luncheons</li><li>Welcome drink</li></ul>In the registration form you can register free of charge for the welcome drink and you can also order ticket(s) for the conference dinner (€ 85).Please note that your registration is firm when your payment has been received.<h3>Abstract submission</h3><blockquote>👉<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://rafa.easyevent.eu/tickets/">Submit your ABSTRACT HERE!</a>In order to submit an abstract, you must first register to attend RAFA 2026. After registration you will receive an access to the Member section where you can submit your abstract(s).</blockquote>&nbsp;After successful submission of your abstract you will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt of submitted abstract via e-mail. If it will not be delivered within a few minutes after submission of your abstract please check at first your spam box-mail and then contact us at RAFA2026@vscht.cz.Please ensure that your abstract does not contain spelling, grammatical or scientific errors. Even though modifications of your submitted abstract will be allowed in the Abstract section of the Member section until the deadline for the abstract submission, please be confident on the lack of errors in your final version prior to starting the submission process.The abstract will be reproduced exactly as submitted. No proofreading will be done, although some corrections may be requested by the reviewers.If you need to withdraw your abstract, a written statement reflecting the reasons for this decision must be sent to RAFA2026@vscht.cz no later than September 30, 2026.<h4>Important notice:</h4><blockquote>1 registered participant can submit no more than 2 abstracts.</blockquote>To apply for a young scientist’s oral presentation, as an indication please respect the rule that you should be born in 1991 or later.The text of the abstract should be limited to 3000 characters including spaces. Tables and pictures are not allowed.Abstracts of oral presentations and posters will be included into the "e-Book of Abstracts" only after receipt of the conference registration fee. Any payment of the registration fee has to be received until September 30, 2026, otherwise contribution(s) will not be included into the e-Book of Abstracts and the Conference programme.<h3>Program</h3><h4>Invited Speakers</h4><h5>Food allergen risk assessment: Past, present, future</h5><ul><li>Ben Remington from Remington Consulting Group B.V., Utrecht, the Netherlands &amp; University of Nebraska, USA</li></ul>Food allergy and allergen management are global public health issues, and consumer protection depends on transparent and trustworthy labelling. While 30 years of scientific advances show that low level exposures, or reference doses, are unlikely to trigger reactions in most allergic individuals, harmonized and globally aligned regulations are still needed to promote consistent allergen risk assessment and labelling decisions. This presentation will discuss the landscape of allergen risk assessment, global policy developments, current research and future needs in the area.<h5>Unmasking hidden adulteration in honey: Strategies for detecting and characterizing honeys produced from sugar-fed colonies</h5><ul><li>Oscar Nuñez Burcio from University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain</li></ul>From hive to jar, not all honey tells the same story. This presentation addresses hidden adulteration associated with sugar-fed bee colonies, highlighting implications for authenticity, production practices, and the need for a more precise characterization of honey to ensure consumer trust.<h5>Analytical and toxicological methods for safety of food contact materials</h5><ul><li>Erich Leitner from Graz University of Technology, Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz, Austria</li></ul>Food packaging plays a critical role in protecting and preserving food throughout the supply chain. All packaging materials intended to come into contact with food must comply with strict EU safety rules. Due to increased complexity of packaging solutions, lowering legal limits and increasing numbers of target compounds, we also have to adapt the strategies used to verify and guarantee the safety of these materials.<h5>Data-driven strategies to reduce complexity in non-target HRMS analysis of food samples</h5><ul><li>Anneli Kruve from Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden</li></ul>LC/HRMS based non-target screening can detect hundreds to thousands of chemical features in complex food and environmental samples. Investigating all of these in detail is practically impossible, so which ones to focus on? Novel computational tools developed in computational mass spectrometry allow predicting the toxicity and concentration of the detected chemical features even if these have not yet been fully structurally elucidated. Combining these predictions enables us to focus on the chemical features possessing high risk.<h5>Role of AI in the identification of emerging food systems risks</h5><ul><li>Ákos Bernard Jóźwiak from Syreon Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary</li></ul>AI-assisted evidence synthesis – spanning curated scientific evidence, exposome data, and network analysis – is the backbone of next-generation emerging chemical food safety risk identification, enabling earlier signals and more resilient surveillance systems.<h5>Challenges of microplastics analysis in the context of food safety</h5><ul><li>Dorte Herzke from Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway</li></ul>Food and food packaging are major sources of micro- and nanoplastic exposure. Plastics used in processing, storage, and packaging can release particles through heat, abrasion, and degradation. Small particles below 2 µm may cross gut barriers and carry chemicals, highlighting the need for robust and sensitive measurement methods.<h5>Never-ending analytical challenges in PFAS analysis of food</h5><ul><li>Darina Dvořáková from University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czechia</li></ul>Exploring and monitoring PFAS in food requires advanced strategies. Combining targeted, suspect, and non-target HRMS analysis, determination of total fluorine and sum parameters, and novel sensors provides new insights into PFAS occurrence and supports food safety monitoring.<h5>An overview of the latest scientific knowledge on process contaminants in food for appropriate risk management measures</h5><ul><li>Thierry Delatour from Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland.</li></ul>Recent scientific findings related to acrylamide and furans formation, occurrence and analytical methods in food provide important insights for risk management.

Deadline for RAFA 2026 Early Registration and Oral Abstract Submission is approaching

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Events

Academy

Science and research

Video

RAFA provides an overview of contemporary trends in ANALYTICAL & BIOANALYTICAL STRATEGIES IN FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY CONTROL and discusses CHALLENGES / NOVEL APPROACHES IN FOOD AND NATURAL PRODUCTS ANALYSIS.

Recent Advances in Food Analysis (RAFA)

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Thermo Fisher Scientific

Eurachem is a European network promoting international traceability of chemical measurements and good analytical practice. It provides expert guidance, supports method validation, uncertainty evaluation, proficiency testing, and facilitates discussion on technical and policy issues in analytical quality.

Eurachem

ISTRAN EcaFlow Model 150 GLP automatic laboratory analyser

EcaFlow Model 150 GLP is a PC controlled automatic laboratory analyser for the determination of trace and high concentrations of metals, semi-metals and numerous nonmetals in various samples.

EcaFlow Model 150 GLP is a PC controlled automatic laboratory analyser for the determination of trace and high concentrations of metals, semi-metals and numerous nonmetals in various samples. By making use of the autosampler AS-150 up to 42 samples can be analysed in full automatic mode. The system supports the standardless, calibration curve and standard additions techniques. Over 70 validated applications are available for numerous sample types such as waters, foods, industrial liquids, wastes, etc. EcaFlow is a compact laboratory instrument controlled by a PC.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:675/449;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_4_26c42795eb.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaFlow 150 GLP" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_4_26c42795eb.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="675" height="449"></figure>The control unit contains the power support unit, control processor with a channel analyser, fast A/D and D/A converters and a high performance generic potentiostat/galvanostat. The compact flow system is controlled by the control unit and operates full automatically. It contains computer controlled electromagnetic valves for switching either to the sample solution or to an electrolyte solution or to a standard solution for the standard addition. Solutions are driven by a peristaltic pump. The heart of the system is the patented compact electrochemical cell.&nbsp;The cell uses disposable flow-through working electrodes made of suitable inert material. The counter and reference electrodes are separated from the flowing solutions hydrodynamically, so the reaction products at the counter electrode cannot interfere at the working electrode. The working electrode can be easily changed simply by loosening a screw. The cell is fixed to the panel of the instrument by a special connector which serves as an electrical contact to the electrodes. The connections of the tubes are made of Luer-type fitting, which facilitates fast manipulation when the electrode or cell is changed.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:675/449;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_5_ac69cdfecf.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaFlow 150 GLP" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_5_ac69cdfecf.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="675" height="449"></figure><h4>Technical data</h4>Potentiostat/galvanostat: 12 V / 20 mA Measuring cell: EcaCell 353c or EcaCell 104 with three electrodes Flow system: Full computer control with peristaltic pumping Weight: 7 kg Dimensions: 500 x 450 x 140 mm Software: Chronopotentiometry, coulometry, voltammetry Computer (option): Any PC with Windows XP and higher Autosampler (option): 42 positions + blank + standard<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:675/449;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_3_f4b61911c2.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaFlow 150 GLP" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Flow_150_GLP_3_f4b61911c2.jpg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="675" height="449"></figure><h4>Available applications (all included):</h4><ol><li>Flow-through analyser test&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Cd, Pb and C&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Pb&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Sn and Pb&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Pb, Cd and Hg&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of EDTA&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Cd, Pb, a Cu in wines&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Ag&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of As(III) and total As in urine&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of As(III) and total As in fertilisers&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Se in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Mn&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Hg&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Fe in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Sn&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Bi&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of As in drugs&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of chlorides in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in wines&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in spirits&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in beers&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Fe (higher concentrations) in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Cd, Pb, and Cu in soil extracts&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Sb&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of As(III) and total As in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in pectines&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of iodides in urine&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Au in water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of low Ni contents&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of iodides in foods and beverages&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Cr(VI) and total Cr in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of nitrates in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Ascorbic Acid&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of chlorites in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of bromates in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Boric acid in nickel plating baths&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of total As in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Acidimetry determination of strong and weak acids&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Fe in concentrated sulphuric acid&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Cu in waste waters&nbsp;</li><li>Alkalimetry determination of strong bases&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of total As and Hg&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Zn in galvanic baths&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Ni in galvanic baths&nbsp;</li><li>Chlorides in galvanic baths&nbsp;</li><li>Cr(III) in passivating galvanic baths&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of phosphates with microporous electrodes&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of sub-ppb Hg concentrations&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Zn in waste waters&nbsp;</li><li>Cu in wine samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Fe in clear and turbid water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Au in ores&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Sb in the presence of As and Cu&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of low Se concentrations&nbsp;</li><li>Sulphites in wines&nbsp;</li><li>Sulphites in beers&nbsp;</li><li>Titanium in TiO2&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of phosphates in clear as well as turbid water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of total ammonia in underground and tap waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of total ammonia in waste waters&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Cr(VI) in clear as well as turbid water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of Ni in clear as well as turbid water samples&nbsp;</li><li>Determination of sulphides (S2-) in waste waters&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu in turbid samples&nbsp;</li><li>Coulometric determination of sulphides in waters&nbsp;</li><li>Acid content in wines&nbsp;</li><li>Ethanol in beverages&nbsp;</li><li>Sulphites (SO3-) in foods&nbsp;</li><li>Chlorides (Cl-) in foods&nbsp;</li><li>Chlorites (ClO2-) in disinfected water&nbsp;</li><li>Manganese (Mn) in aquatic samples&nbsp;</li><li>Bromides (Br-) in water&nbsp;</li><li>Cd, Pb and Cu in concentrated zinc sulphate&nbsp;</li><li>Simultaneous determination of Pb, Cu and Hg in water</li></ol>

ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser

The new Portable Coulometric Analyser PCA is designed for laboratory and field analysis of heavy metals, semi-metals and numerous non-metals in aquatic solutions for a broad concentration range addressing contents from sub-μg/L up to several g/L.

The new Portable Coulometric Analyser PCA is designed for laboratory and field analysis of heavy metals, semi-metals and numerous non-metals in aquatic solutions for a broad concentration range addressing contents from sub-μg/L up to several g/L. In battery operation mode it is well suited for field applications. The analysis is full automatic, the sample solution is transported to the electrochemical measuring cell by means of a small but robust peristaltic pump and on completing the analysis the result is displayed and stored in the memory. The human interface is a simple touch screen.<h3>APPLICATION FIELDS</h3><ul><li>Drinking water</li><li>Surface water</li><li>Waste water</li><li>Foods and beverages</li><li>Biological samples</li></ul><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1116/324;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_aae89cc7dc.jpg" alt="ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_aae89cc7dc.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1116" height="324"></figure><h3>UNIQUE FEATURES</h3><ul><li>Metals, semi-metals, non-metals</li><li>Robust portable design</li><li>Full automatic analysis</li><li>At least 12 hours on battery operation ideal for field applications</li><li>Simple and fast operation</li><li>Ready to use applications</li><li>Broad concentration range, starting at sub-μg/L</li><li>Also suitable for coloured and turbid samples</li></ul><h3>TYPICAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDE</h3><ul><li>Arsenic, antimony, tin and selenium in various water samples</li><li>Heavy metals such as mercury, thallium, cadmium, indium, lead, bismuth, silver, gold.</li><li>Manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium in various water samples</li><li>Chromium(VI) and total chromium</li><li>Iron(II), iron(III), total iron</li><li>Arsenic(III) and total arsenic</li><li>C-vitamin in vegetables, fruits, beverages, foods</li><li>Fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide in waters and biological samples</li><li>Disinfection reagents such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, hypochlorite in drinking water</li><li>Disinfection by-products such as chlorite, bromate in drinking water</li><li>Sulphite in foods, wines and beers</li><li>Sulphides in waste waters</li><li>Ammonia, hydrazine, nitrite, nitrate, cyanide in aquatic samples</li><li>Phosphate in waste waters</li><li>Ethanol in beverages</li><li>Methanol in waste water</li><li>Acids and bases in aquatic solutions, wines</li><li>Samples with suspended particles and solid samples can be analysed after an appropriate sample digestion, e.g. thermal, UV or microwave-assisted sample digestion.</li></ul>Ag, Ammonia, As, Bromate, Bromide, Cd, Chloride, Chlorite, Co, Cr(VI), Cu, EDTA, Fe, Hg, Iodide, Mn, Ni, Nitrite, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sulphide, Tl, Zn<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Screenshot_2025_03_21_at_12_33_28_Istran_2_2d3350cbc8.jpg" alt="ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Screenshot_2025_03_21_at_12_33_28_Istran_2_2d3350cbc8.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1116" height="326"><h3>ANALYSIS PRINCIPLE</h3>The analysis is based on automatic flow-through coulometry and voltammetry making use of a unique robust electrochemical measuring cell with a maintenance-free built-in reference and auxiliary electrodes and a long-life disposable working electrode. The sample solution is pumped into the cell where the determined species (analyte) is measured through its electrochemical conversion, i.e. it is electrochemically oxidised or reduced at the electrode surface. Low concentrations are determined after a preliminary electrochemical deposition of the measured species at the electrode surface (enrichment step), then the deposit is stripped by constant current while the signal is recorded and evaluated. In such a way, concentrations in the sub- μg/L level can be easily measured. A typical response of copper displayed on the touchscreen is depicted below.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1116/326;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_3_d630e0cd53.jpg" alt="ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser: A typical response of copper displayed on the touchscreen" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_3_d630e0cd53.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1116" height="326"></figure><h4>The analytical procedure consists of three main steps:</h4><ol><li>Sample preparation. It includes the filtration of the sample (when necessary) and addition of a reagent to the sample. Solid samples or samples with suspended particles require a sample digestion..</li><li>Analysis. Full automatic procedure yielding the result displayed on the touch screen. The analysis starts on immersing the sampling tube into the sample which is pumped through the measuring cell where the analyte is electrochemically measured. Usually multiple runs are done with measurements repeated and evaluated automatically.</li><li>Cleaning. On completion of the analyses the cell is rinsed with water or a suitable reagent solution and the analyser is set to standby mode or turned down.</li></ol><h3>CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION</h3><ul><li>User interface: Powerful 4.3” Intelligent LCD-TFT display module. 480 x 272 Resolution, RGB 65K true to life colours, TFT Screen with integrated 4-wire Resistive Touch Panel. On-board micro-SD memory card connector for data logging purposes</li><li>User interface for uploading new measuring parameters, downloading results and curves</li><li>User interface with administrator access, firmware upgrading and calibration of electronic circuits</li></ul><h3>MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DATA</h3><ul><li>Enclosure: The PCA instrument is integrated into a robust transport case made of polypropylene. Watertight, crushproof, and dustproof. Protection class IP 67</li><li>Dimensions (W x D x H): 27 x 24.6 x 12.4 cm (10.62” x 9.68” x 4.87”)</li><li>Weight: 2.9 kg (6.4 lbs)</li><li>Power input: 100-240V/50-60Hz&nbsp;</li><li>Battery: Ni-MH, 14.4V/4.5Ah</li><li>Ambient operating conditions: 5 °C – 45 °C at 5 - 95% relative humidity non-condensing (41 °F – 113 °F)</li></ul><h3>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS</h3><h4>MEASUREMENT</h4><ul><li>Analysis method: Coulometry and voltammetry in chronopotentiometric mode</li><li>Determined species: Metals, semi-metals, non-metals, organics (refer to the up to date list of applications)</li><li>Measuring cell: robust three-electrode flow-through cell. Built-in maintenance-free platinum auxiliary and silver/silver chloride reference electrodes. Longlife disposable working electrodes made of glassy carbon, gold, silver, platinum, copper. No mercury or gold plating solutions required.</li><li>Detection limit: less than 1 μg/L *</li><li>Precision (RSD, under repeatability conditions): 5 % full scale for calibration or validation solutions</li><li>Calibration: A built-in 10 point calibration curve adjusted in the factory</li><li>Re-calibration: Two point re-calibration (blank and calibration solution) carried out on demand</li><li>Measuring ranges: Please check the respective application list for each parameter</li><li>Analysis time/run: 1-10 min, depending on the analyte concentration *.</li></ul>*Refer to the corresponding application list<h4>DATA LOGGING AND SECURITY</h4><ul><li>Log files with over 1000 results and corresponding curves are stored</li><li>Easy export to spreadsheet files</li></ul><h4>GLP FEATURES</h4><ul><li>Automatic storage of about 1000 results, including the corresponding signal curve, date, time of analysis and the sample identifier.</li><li>Statistical evaluation of the results</li><li>Checking the accuracy and precision by means of a control sample with known analyte concentration.</li></ul><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1116/326;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_4_6b3bf1dde1.jpg" alt="ISTRAN PCA2 Portable coulometric analyser " srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_PCA_2_Portable_coulometric_analyser_4_6b3bf1dde1.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1116" height="326"></figure><h4>REAGENTS AND CONSUMABLES</h4><ul><li>Reagents, consumables, containers and tools can be transported in a separate transport case</li><li>Reagent consumption is low, usually 0.1 to 1 mL/sample</li><li>No organic or toxic reagents are used</li><li>All reagents and consumables are delivered by the producer</li><li>Reagent formulas are available against royalties</li><li>Cleaning solution: Demineralised water or in most cases tap water is sufficient</li><li>Calibration or validation solution: Available from the producer, prepared from single element Certified Reference Materials</li></ul><h4>OPTIONS</h4><ul><li>Additional applications each including a measurement parameter file, measuring cell (if needed), electrode</li><li>Transport case for reagents, consumables, tools ideal for field operation</li></ul>

ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser

The coulometric method ensures accurate and precise results. The analyser is extremely simple to use and therefore it is also suitable for routine measurements not needing any special qualification.

The coulometric technique is used for measuring the thickness of electroplated deposits on a wide variety of substrates such as steel, aluminium, copper, nickel, silver, alloys, some insulators.The coulometric method ensures accurate and precise results. The analyser is extremely simple to use and therefore it is also suitable for routine measurements not needing any special qualification. Moreover, coulometry is the only method allowing the measurement of multi-layer coatings such as chrome, chrome oxide on tin, tin, tin-iron intermetals on steel, etc.<h3>Measuring principle</h3>The fundamental principle is the Faraday’s Law. The method is similar to the electrolytic plating process but here the coating is removed electrochemically from a defined surface area. For this purpose, a piece of the sample is placed to the flow-through measuring cell which is filled with a suitable electrolyte solution and the analysed metal coating is subsequently removed by applying an appropriate current. Hence, metal layers are measured by anodic dissolution, metal oxide layers, such as tin oxide on a tin coating, are measured by cathodic dissolution. The measured sample area is given by the gasket used and it can include 0.2 to 20 cm2. The analysis is performed totally automatically and is controlled by a PC.By applying the Faraday’s Laws, the thickness of a metal layer can be calculated.<h3>The EcaLayer Model 220/220a consists of three major parts:</h3><figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:643/961;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_4_ab4b7f6aff.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser - Scheme" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_4_ab4b7f6aff.jpg 104w," sizes="100vw" width="643" height="961"></figure><h4>1. Analytical Unit</h4><h5>Two types of analytical units can be used:</h5><ul><li>Module A for metal coatings and metal oxide layer measurements needing the removal of dissolved oxygen, e.g. tin oxide measurements, and</li><li>Module B for measurements not needing oxygen removal, e.g. tin layer thickness measurements.</li></ul>Module A encloses a unique flow-through analytical cell with the sample as the working electrode, a stainless steel counter and Ag/AgCl reference electrodes, a peristaltic pump, an electromagnetic valve for the gas and a reservoir for the electrolyte solution.Module B is built in the same way but without the gas unit.<h4>2. Control Unit</h4>The control unit comprises a computer controlled potentiostat/galvanostat with a maximum output of 100 mA, 16-bit A/D and D/A converters. The unit is controlled by a microprocessor linked to the PC through a serial line.<h4>3. Computer and software</h4>Any IBM compatible PC can be coupled to the instrument. The user-friendly software facilitates the use without any special knowledge about electrochermistry. GLP facilities such as archiving, printing of reports, selftesting are included.<h3>Function</h3><h4>The metal layer analyser works as follows:</h4><ol><li>The sample is placed into the cell and the cell is closed. The next steps are performed automatically by computer control.</li><li>The cell is filled with the electrolyte from the reservoir. If needed, the electrolyte solution is with an inert gas to remove dissolved oxygen.</li><li>The coating is removed by applying a suitable constant current and the potential of the sample material (i.e. the working electrode) is monitored and registered in the time.</li><li>The electrolyte solution is removed from the cell.</li><li>In the meantime, the registered potential-time dependence is evaluated giving the dissolution time and the layer thickness is calculated automatically.</li><li>The cell is opened and the sample is removed. The whole procedure takes 4 to 8 minutes.</li></ol><h3>Some applications</h3><h5>Measurements of tin coatings on steel</h5>Tin coatings are measured by anodic dissolution in HCl electrolyte solution with currents up to 100 mA. Both the tin and the tin-iron intermetallic layers can be measured in a single run.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:621/342;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_0d2f857bae.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser: Measurements of tin coatings on steel" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_0d2f857bae.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="621" height="342"></figure><h5>Measurement of passivating chromous layers on tin coated steel</h5>The chromium layers are dissolved by anodic oxidation in a phosphate buffer electrolyte solution with currents of few mA.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:645/353;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_2_31bc2b54d5.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser: Measurement of passivating chromous layers on tin coated steel" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_2_31bc2b54d5.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="645" height="353"></figure><h5>Measurement of oxide layers on tin coatings</h5>Oxide layers can be determined by cathodic dissolution in deairated HBr electrolyte solution with currents about -1 mA. Due to the uncertain stoichiometry of the oxide layers, the results are expressed as charge consumed per sample area.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:685/348;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_3_0b111ab468.jpg" alt="ISTRAN EcaLayer Metal Layer Analyser: Measurement of oxide layers on tin coatings" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_ISTRAN_Eca_Layer_Metal_Layer_Analyser_3_0b111ab468.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="685" height="348"></figure><h3>Ordering information</h3><h5>EcaLayer Model 220 includes</h5><ul><li>Control Unit</li><li>Flow System with Module A</li><li>Application software</li><li>PC with printer (specified by the customer)</li><li>All necessary cables</li><li>Users manual</li><li>Methodologies according to EN ISO 2177</li></ul><h5>EcaLayer Model 220a includes</h5><ul><li>Control Unit</li><li>Flow System with Module B</li><li>Application software</li><li>PC with printer (specified by the customer)</li><li>All necessary cables</li><li>Users manual</li><li>Methodologies according to EN ISO 2177</li></ul>

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