Professor Michaela Rumlová, head of a research group of the National Institute of Virology and Bacteriology at UCT Prague (and Vice-Rector for doctoral studies), holder of a licensed patent &nbsp;for antiretroviral testing assays, and recipient of the Czech Science Foundation’s President’s Award for HIV research, has also become the principal investigator of the bilateral INTER-EXCELLENCE II project “Cellular factors regulating the export and packaging of unspliced ​​retroviral RNA”, starting this year. In this interview, she explains how retroviruses such as HIV “hack” the cell in order to export their own genome from the nucleus into the cytoplasm, and then to the site where it is specifically packaged into nascent viral particles, a key step in viral replication. Her team is collaborating with the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and Rockefeller University to elucidate mechanisms that may help reveal new vulnerable points in the retrovirus replication cycle while simultaneously clarifying related cellular processes.<h5>Could you describe your project and its main objectives?</h5>Retroviruses, such as HIV, are viruses that carry genetic information in the form of RNA; however, after entering a cell, they are able to reverse transcribe it into DNA and integrate it into the host genome. In order to replicate, they must transport their genetic information—in the form of unspliced RNA—from the nucleus into the cytosol. There, it serves both as a template for the production of viral proteins and as the genome of new viral particles. This is highly unusual, as the cell very carefully controls which RNA molecules are allowed to leave the nucleus. Normal protein-coding cellular RNAs, known as messenger RNAs (mRNAs), must undergo splicing—a processing step in which certain segments are removed—before being exported. When this process fails, mRNA that retains these segments is held back in the nucleus as part of quality control and subsequently degraded. Retroviruses have managed to outwit this cellular control machinery, allowing their unspliced RNA to pass into the cytoplasm.Our project focuses on identifying the cellular proteins that assist retroviruses in this step and on the mechanism by which protein complexes bound to viral RNA are remodelled during RNA transport. The goal is to understand how the virus uses cellular mechanisms to its advantage and how this pathway is linked to the subsequent fate of the RNA, i.e. to its translation and packaging into new viral particles.<h5>Why is this export of unspliced ​​RNA so important for retroviral replication?</h5>Because this RNA has a dual role for the virus. On the one hand, it serves as a template for synthesizing viral proteins in the cytoplasm; on the other, it represents the genetic material itself, which must be packaged into new viral particles. The virus must package its RNA genome in its unspliced form, as only this RNA contains essential sequences without which further viral replication would be impossible.Simply put: the virus needs to get a complete copy of its genetic instructions out of the nucleus. Once the viral RNA is in the cytoplasm, it can be used as a template for synthesizing viral proteins; and a portion of these RNA molecules is then selected and packaged into a new particle as a genome. We are interested in how the virus forces the cell to allow viral RNA that is, from the cell’s perspective, “unfinished,” that is unspliced, to leave the nucleus. We are also investigating how the cell and the virus together - albeit unintentionally from the cell’s perspective - determine which RNA molecule will be translated into proteins and which will be packaged as the genome. This is one of the key, yet still not fully understood, steps of retroviral replication.<h5>What do you think it was about your project that impressed the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports’ jury the most?</h5>I believe the decisive factor was a combination of several elements. First, the reviewers were primarily interested in the scientific problem itself. We are investigating a mechanism that is essential for retroviruses, but still not sufficiently understood, which may also have broader implications for the regulation of cellular processes. In addition, the quality of the team, our strong collaboration with the NIH and Rockefeller University, and the use of modern methods that will allow us to track viral RNA in great detail also played a role. It was also important that the project has clear objectives and a realistic plan.<h5>How will this research contribute to the development of new treatments for retroviral infections?</h5>It is important to say that this is primarily basic research. Rather than developing a new drug directly, we are trying to understand, at the molecular level, the step that the virus cannot do without. Only when we fully understand the mechanism of these cellular processes and identify the essential factors for the export of unspliced ​​RNA and how they function, will we be able to better determine which interactions or mechanisms represent potentially vulnerable points. Similar mechanisms associated with the export of unspliced ​​mRNA also appear in some diseases, such as cancer, so I &nbsp;see the benefit of our research mainly in that it will refine our understanding of these pathological processes in the cell, and retroviruses help us do so. Therefore, our work on retroviruses not only shows us how the virus works, but also how the cell itself works.<h5>What responsibilities does your UCT Prague team have? How does the collaboration with your American partners work?</h5>At UCT Prague, we are conducting the project’s primary experimental work. Our research involves cell cultures, viral models, and various biochemical techniques ranging from immunochemistry to microscopy that allow us to track viral RNA and identify its cellular partners. In collaboration with colleagues from NIH, Frederick, we are developing single-particle tracking methods to observe viral RNA movement in living cells across both space and time. Furthermore, we are working with colleagues from Rockefeller University to employ iCLIP methods for the precise mapping of protein-binding sites on RNA. Both collaborations are valuable to us, because they are not just about data sharing, but also about the transfer of expertise and detailed know-how.<h5>Who else is collaborating on the project?</h5>At UCT Prague, we collaborate closely with the Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology. Externally, we work with colleagues from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (IOCB Prague) and the Central European Institute of Technology in Brno (CEITEC). Our research naturally necessitates the integration of diverse fields of expertise; it requires combining virology, cell biology, and biochemistry with advanced imaging and modern approaches to study RNA-protein interactions. This is exactly what makes our project capable of addressing complex questions that a single laboratory cannot tackle on its own.<h5>Are there plans to continue the project? Have you brought on new collaborators, and are you looking to welcome new colleagues to the team?</h5>Yes, definitely. In basic research, it often happens that one answered question opens up several more. High-quality, properly interpreted data provide a foundation you can build on — and that is what moves scientists forward. It is already clear that the topic of retroviral RNA export and packaging has broader implications and may reveal more general principles of how RNA functions within the cell. We also hope the project will be attractive to students, as it connects classical molecular biology, biochemistry, and virology with cutting-edge biotechnological methods. Students are already involved in the project as part of their bachelor’s and master’s theses.<h5>What was the personal turning point that motivated you to pursue a long-term investigation into retroviral particles?</h5>I first encountered retroviruses in the early 1990s during my diploma thesis, when I was working at IOCB Prague on HIV-1 protease inhibitors. At that time, AIDS could not yet be effectively treated, and retrovirus research had a completely different dimension. From the very beginning, I was fascinated by how such a relatively small and simple virus can outsmart evolutionarily highly optimized cellular processes and turn them to its own advantage. And that has never stopped fascinating me. From a scientific point of view, retroviruses are remarkable; just consider one of their enzymes, reverse transcriptase, without which no diagnostic or research laboratory in the world could function today. Without it, it would be impossible to diagnose RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2, influenza, or HIV using RT-PCR tests, or, for example to produce recombinant human proteins in bacterial cells.

Tracking unspliced RNA: Professor Rumlová studies how retroviruses “hack” cells

News from LabRulezLCMS Library - Week 20, 2026

🎤Lindsay Repka&nbsp;Lindsay Repka is a chemistry professor at Middlebury College whose research explores photoredox chemistry, catalyst stability, and visible-light-driven transformations. Her lab emphasizes both mechanistic insight and hands-on student training in advanced analytical instrumentation.In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, we sit down with Lindsay Repka to discuss how LC-MS and GC-MS transformed her lab’s approach to photoredox chemistry.What began as a project to develop a visible-light photocrosslinking handle unexpectedly led to a major discovery: the solvent (DMF) was reacting with the photocatalyst itself. Using high-resolution LC-MS, Lindsay’s team observed multiple solvent adducts forming — sometimes with complete catalyst consumption. That discovery reshaped their research direction.This episode is a rare deep dive into both LC-MS and GC-MS within the same research project, showing how chromatography-driven insight can turn unexpected degradation into productive new reactivity.If you work in:<ul><li>Photoredox chemistry</li><li>Reaction optimization</li><li>Mass spectrometry method development</li><li>Catalyst screening</li><li>Academic synthetic chemistry</li></ul>…this conversation will resonate.<h4>Key Topics Covered</h4><ul><li>Photocatalyst stability in DMF, DCE, and MeCN</li><li>Demethylation under mild visible-light conditions</li><li>High-resolution Q-TOF LC-MS quantitation</li><li>Internal standard methodology in GC-MS</li><li>Signal-to-noise improvement using extracted ion chromatograms</li><li>Reaction reproducibility and quality control strategy</li></ul><h3>Video Transcription</h3>In this interview, Lindsay Repka discusses the role of photoredox chemistry in method development, photocrosslinking, solvent activation, catalyst stability, and the use of LC-MS and GC-MS to understand reaction pathways.<h4>What is photoredox chemistry?</h4>Photoredox chemistry uses light to activate a photocatalyst, which can either donate or accept an electron from a substrate. This generates radical species that can undergo new types of reactivity.Repka explains that one of the key advantages of photoredox chemistry is its ability to operate under mild conditions, often using visible light. This makes it attractive for sensitive molecules and biological systems, including potential applications in drug release, live-cell chemistry, and drug development.<h4>Photocrosslinking and drug-target interactions</h4>Repka’s group initially aimed to develop visible-light photocrosslinking methods to study drug interactions with biological targets. Photocrosslinking can covalently link a drug to its target, making it easier to identify the biological target of a compound.Traditional photocrosslinking often uses UV light, but visible light offers milder and more biologically compatible conditions.<h4>From photocrosslinking to solvent activation</h4>The project shifted direction when the desired photocrosslinking reactions gave very low yields. Instead of reacting with amino acids as intended, the radical intermediate mainly reacted with itself.The team explored different solvents to stabilize the radical, but found that some solvents, such as DMF, were not inert. Instead, the solvent reacted with the photocatalyst or radical species, revealing unexpected solvent activation chemistry.<h4>Why LC-MS was critical</h4>LC-MS became essential because the reaction mixtures were too complex and low-yielding for NMR or GC-MS. High-resolution LC-MS allowed the team to detect minor products, identify photocatalyst modifications, and observe solvent addition products with high confidence.Repka emphasizes that LC-MS was both a qualitative and quantitative tool. It was used quantitatively to measure how much photocatalyst remained after light exposure, and qualitatively to identify degradation products and new reactivity pathways.<h4>Photocatalyst stability workflow</h4>The team developed a systematic workflow to evaluate photocatalyst stability under light exposure. Because catalyst degradation was time-sensitive, reproducibility required strict control of experimental conditions.Key steps included using a glove box, commercial deoxygenated solvents, accurate weighing on a microbalance, controlled light exposure in a photoreactor, and temperature control with a chiller. These precautions helped reduce day-to-day variability and enabled reproducible measurements of catalyst remaining.<h4>Quantifying catalyst remaining by LC-MS</h4>Calibration curves were prepared using pure photocatalyst solutions and LC-MS ion areas. The team worked in the nanomolar range to maintain linearity.Instead of relying only on total ion chromatograms, they used extracted ion chromatograms (EICs) to improve signal-to-noise for the photocatalyst signal. Baseline subtraction was also applied to reduce noise and improve quantitation at low concentrations.Calibration curves and quality control samples were prepared and measured on the same day as the reaction samples, because LC-MS signal intensity can vary significantly from day to day.<h4>Why GC-MS was used later</h4>For demethylation studies, the group moved to GC-MS because the substrates and products were small and volatile enough for gas chromatography. GC-MS was better suited for rapidly screening many reaction conditions, including different photocatalysts, solvents, and oxidants.Instead of generating full calibration curves for every experiment, the team used an internal standard to streamline analysis and determine percent conversion based on relative response factors.<h4>Practical lessons from the project</h4>Repka highlights the importance of careful sample preparation, especially when working with very small quantities of photocatalysts. A high-quality microbalance, stable granite platform, antistatic tools, and aluminum weigh boats improved weighing accuracy and reproducibility.She also argues that mass spectrometry should be a standard part of photoredox method development because it can reveal minor products, support reaction optimization, and provide insights that may be difficult or impossible to obtain by NMR alone.<h4>Final perspective</h4>Beyond the chemistry, Repka emphasizes the importance of student training and mentoring. For her, research is not only about discovering new reactivity but also about giving students practical experience, helping them develop independence, and preparing them for future scientific careers.<blockquote>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.</blockquote><blockquote><h4>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</h4>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!You can find Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast in podcast apps:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185">Apple podcast</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography">podscan</a></li></ul>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos">YouTube channel</a></blockquote>

Using LC-MS & GC-MS to Decode Photoredox Catalyst Stability

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The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague is a natural centre of first-rate study and research in the area of chemistry in Czechia and is one of the country's largest educational and research institutions focused on technical chemistry, chemical and biochemical technologies, material and chemical engineering, food chemistry, and environmental studies.

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Karl Fischer (KF) titration is an industry standard method for measuring water content in all types of substances. However, for various reasons some substances are not suitable for a direct Karl Fischer titration:
<ul>
<li>They release their water only slowly</li>
<li>The water is released at high temperature only</li>
<li>The substances are poorly soluble in KF solvents</li>
<li>undergo side reactions with KF reagents</li>
<li>They contaminate the titration cell or the electrodes</li>
</ul>
By using the KF oven method, the above-mentioned problems can be avoided. This makes the KF oven method a perfect solution for the analysis of difficult samples.
By viewing this webinar you will learn…
<ul>
<li>how to handle liquid samples and water standards correctly</li>
<li>how to analyze difficult samples</li>
<li>how to properly prepare your titration system with the KF oven</li>
<li>how to prepare your sample</li>
<li>how to select the optimal heating temperature</li>
<li>which reagents and which water standards you should use to obtain accurate results</li>
</ul>
After viewing this webinar you will know how to perform accurate titrations using the Karl Fischer oven method. Additionally, the speakers will reveal tips and tricks to help you in the daily routine. The webinar will finish with a live Q&amp;A session.
This webinar will be moderated by Allison Reiter, Offering Management Lead – Honeywell Research Chemicals.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Roman Neufeld (Senior Research Scientist, Honeywell)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Roman joined Honeywell in 2017 as an Application Chemist, providing support to a global customer base on technical queries and application development for Karl Fischer titration. Since 2018, he has expanded his role to include development of new and innovative Hydranal reagents to stay ahead of market needs.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Michael Margreth (Sr. Product Specialist, Karl Fischer Titration, Metrohm)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Michael Margreth studied chemistry at the University of Applied Science in Muttenz, Switzerland. He joined Metrohm in 2005 as an application specialist and gained titration experience in the application laboratory. Since 2008 he mainly focuses on Karl Fischer titration and the determination of water.
</blockquote>

Metrohm: Tips and tricks for Karl Fischer water determination using the oven method

Tips and tricks for Karl Fischer water determination using the oven method

After viewing this webinar you will know how to perform accurate titrations using the Karl Fischer oven method. 

Tips and tricks for Karl Fischer water determination

Reference standards are essential in chromatography to ensure the correct identification of the sample components and the accuracy of quantitation.
In this one-hour presentation, we will explore the definitions and certifications that can impact selection and use of reference standards. Additionally, we’ll review the techniques and documentation required to prepare reproducible and reliable reference standards.
<ul>
<li>Learn what certified reference materials (CRMs) are and why you need them.</li>
<li>Explore the quality controls needed to consistently ensure accurate reference standards.</li>
<li>Understand secondary source standards and how to obtain them.</li>
</ul>

Restek: Building a Rock-Solid Analytical Foundation with Certified Reference Materials (CRMs)

Building a Rock-Solid Analytical Foundation with Certified Reference Materials (CRMs)

Join us for an upcoming webinar on green chemistry.
Our expert speakers will discuss strategies how to reduce consumption or completely replace traditional and often toxic organic solvents, many of which are under an increasing legislative and consumer pressure.
You will learn about:
<ul>
<li>12 principles of green chemistry</li>
<li>next generation solvents as attractive and highly needed replacements to traditional organic solvents that have health or environmental concerns</li>
<li>micellar catalysis as a useful tool to perform cross-coupling reactions in water</li>
<li>an automated chemical synthesis platform which uses minimum solvents and is based on the principles of so called &quot;capsule chemistry&quot;</li>
<li>hydrophobic powders as an interesting, fast and green alternative to liquid-liquid extraction for reaction work-ups</li>
</ul>
The registration for this webinar is open for researchers and engineers from Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary.
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Presenter: Ondřej Baszczyňski (Head of the Group of Medicinal chemistry &amp; Drug delivery at Charles University)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Zuzana Cejpková &amp; Stanislav Kukla (Merck Life Science)
</blockquote>

MERCK: Strategies to reduce/replace traditional solvent consumption in organic synthesis labs

Strategies to reduce/replace traditional solvent consumption in organic synthesis labs

Our expert speakers will discuss strategies how to reduce consumption or completely replace traditional and often toxic organic solvents.

Reduce/replace solvent consumption in organic synthesis labs

Reference standards must perform at a consistent level each and every time you use them. Variations in analyte concentration can disrupt analyses, impede your lab’s workflow, and lead to wasted time and money.
In order to create trust in the use of reference standards worldwide quality standards have been established through which the production of reference standards is regulated by numerous guidelines. The webinar gives insights how Restek as a manufacturer of certified reference materials meets these requirements. In total, there are 10 decisive steps that determine the quality of Restek&#39;s reference materials.
<ul>
<li>Learn what certified reference materials (CRMs) are, and why you need them.</li>
<li>Explore the quality controls needed to consistently ensure accurate reference standards.</li>
<li>Review what information is available in certificates and data packs</li>
</ul>

Restek Corporation: Build a Rock-Solid Analytical Foundation with Restek Certified Reference Standards

Build a Rock-Solid Analytical Foundation with Restek Certified Reference Standards

The webinar gives insights how Restek as a manufacturer of certified reference materials meets numerous guidelines and requirements.

Restek Certified Reference Standards

<h3>Building a strong foundation for your analytical workflow</h3>
Your results are only as accurate as your reference. Within Pharma QC, whether you are performing dissolution testing or releasing finished goods, having accurate, reliable and fully characterized Reference Materials is critical. This webinar will provide viewers with an overview of key concepts relating to Reference Materials.
With a multitude of suppliers serving the industry – both compendial and commercial – there are myriad choices of Reference Materials available for a quality control laboratory. We will discuss how different quality grades are “fit for purpose,” best practices in Reference Material production, and what to look for in a Reference Material Certificate of Analysis.
We will also discuss a novel concept: fully characterized Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) qualified against compendial standards. These CRMs are designed to replace a laboratories in-house working standards and pair with a laboratory’s primary Reference Standards to form a strong, well-characterized and fully traceable Reference Material foundation.
<h3>Key Learning Objectives</h3>
<ul>
<li>Understand how different Reference Material quality grades are fit-to-purpose</li>
<li>Provide key concepts in Reference Material manufacture and characterization</li>
<li>Detail Certificate of Analysis (CoA) key attributes that will be common across sources</li>
</ul>
<h3>Audience</h3>
<ul>
<li>Laboratory Directors</li>
<li>Pharmaceutical Quality Control (QC) Managers</li>
<li>Pharmaceutical Quality Control (QC) technicians</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Michael Hurst (Product Manager - Reference Materials)
</blockquote>

Pixabay/Mizianitka: Reference Materials in Pharma QC

MilliporeSigma - Reference Materials in Pharma QC

<h5>Unlocking the Mystery of Pesticides CRM Stability for Food Analysis</h5>
There is a growing global need for pesticide residues testing in a wide variety of food commodities. In response to this need, testing laboratories must develop versatile analytical methods and workflows in order to produce scientifically sound results which ensure the safety of our food. One of the many challenges faced by food chemists is acquiring suitable pesticide certified reference materials (CRMs) to calibrate analytical equipment, monitor method performance and confirm the identity and concentration of hundreds of pesticide residues in food samples. Questions regarding the stability of pesticide CRMs abound among users and there’s a need to educate and inform the community. CRM producers invest considerable resources to ensure the stability of their products. The authors will present proper CRM handling and storage practices as guidance to ensure stability based on the results of several multiresidue pesticide stability studies. The results of three pesticide mix stability studies will be shown demonstrating what can be expected after pesticide mix ampulesare opened and stored for use, and also when mixed togetherto prepare 200+ compound multi-residue mixesfor routine LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS laboratory analysis. 
<blockquote>
Presenter: Joe Konschnik (Business Development Manager, Food &amp; Agriculture Market, RESTEK Corporation, Bellefonte, PA, USA)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
As RESTEK’s Business Development Manager for the global Food &amp; Agriculture market Joe applies his 37 years of analytical chemistry experience toward identifying market needs, new technologies, product opportunities and overseeing technical content development for new workflow solutions. Prior to RESTEK Joe spent 19 years working for some ofthe nation’s largest environmental testing laboratory companies as a bench chemist and in technical and laboratory operations senior management roles. Joe has been an invited speaker on sampling and analytical chemistry topics globally. He serves in volunteer leadership roles for the Independent Laboratories Institute (ILI), the American Council of Independent Labs (ACIL)’sFood Sciences Section and AOAC International. Joe is also an active member of NACRW and AOCS
</blockquote>
<h5>Guide to Reference Material use in Trace Level Analysis</h5>
The analysis of contaminants and residues in human and animal foods presents special challenges due to the large numbers of analytes with varied chemical properties being analyzed at low concentrations in a single method. In addition, a singlemulti-residue method may be utilized to screen a wide variety of complex food, dietary supplement and environmental matrices for compliance with strict regulatory requirements. Recognizing these challenges, the Reference Materials Working Group of the North American Chemical Residue Workshop is developing a best practices guide for understanding and effectively using reference materials specific to complex trace level analysis. This presentation will introduce the guide and provide an overview of the content.
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Presenter: Jo Marie Cook (former Bureau Chief, Chemical Residue Labs, Florida Department of Agriculture)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
JoMarie Cook is recently retired from the Florida Department of Agriculture where she served as Bureau Chief of the Chemical Residue Laboratories.She also has been a member of the NACRW Organizing Committee for over twenty years and serves on the Board ofDirectors. She has a degree in chemistry from Michigan State University.
</blockquote>

NACRW: Unlocking the Mystery of Pesticides CRM Stability for Food Analysis and Guide to Reference Material use in Trace Level Analysis

Unlocking the Mystery of Pesticides CRM Stability for Food Analysis and Guide to Reference Material use in Trace Level Analysis

<h4>Eight Webinars and a Roundtable with Experts from Merck</h4>Analytical Excellence Week' is organized to empower professionals in the field of analytical chemistry. Over the course of eight insightful sessions, industry experts will share their knowledge and best practices to streamline your analytical workflows and enhance your efficiency.From understanding quality grades in inorganics and solvents to exploring sustainable practices in the lab, each webinar covers essential topics that will enhance your analytical capabilities. Learn how to optimize your Karl Fischer titration, achieve precision in PFAS testing, and gain troubleshooting tips for LC-MS to effectively address common challenges and improve your laboratory results.The sessions will also address critical aspects of safety and sustainability, ensuring you are well-equipped to handle hazardous chemicals responsibly while making strides toward greener laboratory practices.This is an invaluable opportunity to gain insights that can significantly optimize your analytical processes. Don’t miss your chance to elevate your expertise and contribute to a more efficient and sustainable future in analytical workflows.Each session is specifically designed to address essential topics that directly impact your daily practices, making it relevant for all professionals working in a chemical analysis laboratory.<h3>Day 1: Monday, 10 February</h3><h4>Navigating Quality Grades Part 1: Inorganics and Solvents for Classical Analysis and Research</h4>Join us for an insightful webinar focused on the critical process of selecting the right quality grade for inorganic reagents and solvents used both in analytical and research applications. We will provide an in-depth overview of various quality grades, including ACS grade and EMSURE®, and discuss their specific attributes, including purity, regulatory support, and packaging. Gain valuable insights into the importance of this choice and its impact on the quality of your lab processes and outcomes.By attending this webinar, you will:<ul><li>Understand the significance of choosing the right quality grade for your lab applications</li><li>Explore the available quality grades, including ACS grade and EMSURE®, and their specific attributes</li><li>Recognize the impact of quality grade selection</li><li>Learn best practices for selecting and utilizing the appropriate quality grade for several applications</li></ul>Who should attend:This webinar is designed for professionals involved in laboratory work who seek to enhance their understanding of quality grades for inorganic reagents and solvents. It is particularly relevant for lab technicians, researchers, and managers in analytical labs (like QC, environmental, etc.) method development and research laboratories that are looking to optimize their processes and outcomes.<blockquote>Presenter: Christian Roth (Senior Product Manager Inorganics, Merck)Presenter: Lyra Christianson (Product Manager Solvents, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, an affiliate of Merck)</blockquote><h4>Navigating Quality Grades Part 2: Solvents and Reagents for Chromatography Applications</h4>This second part focuses on the critical process of selecting the right quality grades used in chromatography applications. We provide an in-depth overview of various quality grades, from Suprasolv® solvents for GC to LiChrosolv® solvents for HPLC, in combination with LiChropurTM reagents, and discuss their specific attributes, including purity, regulatory support, and packaging. The topic will be illustrated by typical HPLC and LC-MS applications.By attending this webinar, you will learn:<ul><li>Which grades are suitable for which chromatographic analysis</li><li>What are the specific attributes of the solvents and reagents</li><li>How to combine different quality grades meaningfully</li><li>How to identify and differentiate between various quality grades of reagents and solvents.</li><li>To understand the critical importance of selecting the appropriate quality grade for your specific analytical applications</li></ul>Who should attendLab technicians, lab managers, and quality control-related persons who need to understand how to select the different quality grades for HPLC and LC-MS applications.<blockquote>Presenter: Patric Klein, (Global Product Manager Organic and Inorganics Instrumental Analysis, Merck)Presenter: Fernando Luengo, (Global Product Manager HPLC Solvents, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, an affiliate of Merck)Presenter: Daniel Weibel, (Global Product Manager Solvents, Merck)</blockquote>

Merck: Webinar Series & Expert Roundtable

Webinar Series & Expert Roundtable (Day 1)

Navigating Quality Grades Part 1: Inorganics and Solvents for Classical Analysis and Research and Part 2: Solvents and Reagents for Chromatography Applications

Reference standards must perform at a consistent level each and every time you use them. Variations in analyte concentration can disrupt analyses, impede your lab’s workflow, and lead to wasted time and money. Restek’s Certificates of Analysis offer comprehensive information to help you understand the composition, proper storage conditions, and method of shipment for your reference standard.
In this presentation, we’ll explain the terms given on the certificate, discuss when you might need to apply uncertainty values, and clarify why we provide them. We’ll also explore how to safely store and properly prepare your reference standards for use along with what else you need to keep in mind to ensure the long-term integrity of your standards.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Jaap de Zeeuw (Gas Chromatography Specialist, Restek)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Jaap is a world-renowned chromatographer with over 40 years of experience, including 27 years with Varian/Chrompack focusing on industrial analysis challenges. For his 1979 graduation from The Institute for Higher Education, specialized in chemistry, Jaap authored a paper titled &quot;The Challenge of Coating Flexible Fused Silica Capillary Columns&quot; and has since distinguished himself as an authority on the subject. Directly involved with the creation of numerous chemically bonded columns, including the first bonded PEG column and the stabilized PLOT columns widely used in the petrochemical arena, Restek’s international GC specialist has helped develop new techniques, such as fast GC-MS using vacuum GC technology, and has filed two patents for his work. Based out of the Netherlands, Jaap celebrates 10 years with Restek. Jaap is extensively published and regularly travels internationally to share his knowledge.
</blockquote>

LCMS webinars focusing on Chemicals & Standards - page 2