<h3>1. What exactly is a “source” in mass spectrometry?</h3>Whether you’re running LC-MS, imaging-MS, or native-MS, the ion source is where molecules leave the chromatograph, capillary, or sample stage and become charged gas-phase particles that the mass spectrometer can detect. The source you choose governs the kinds of compounds you’ll see, the flow rates you can use, and the robustness you can expect from run to run.Sources fall into two broad families:<ul><li>Vacuum ionization: Electron ionization (EI), fast-atom bombardment (FAB), and traditional MALDI create ions inside the instrument’s evacuated housing.</li><li>Atmospheric-pressure ionization (API): Electrospray (ESI), atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization (APCI), atmospheric-pressure photo-ionization (APPI), and today’s atmospheric-pressure MALDI (AP-MALDI) generate ions in open air and then guide them through an interface into vacuum.</li></ul><blockquote>Learn more about Ionization methods here: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.thermofisher.com/content/lifetech/global/en/home/industrial/mass-spectrometry/mass-spectrometry-learning-center/mass-spectrometry-technology-overview/ionization-source-technology-overview.html">Ionization Source Technology Overview | Thermo Fisher Scientific – US</a></blockquote><h3>2. Why electrospray changed the game</h3>In 1988 John B. Fenn demonstrated that a fine, high-voltage spray could coax intact proteins into the gas phase (see figure). The work earned a share of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Because electrospray produces multiply charged ions, large biomolecules fit within the m/z window of modern analyzers. That single insight opened the door to:<ul><li>Bottom-up and top-down proteomics</li><li>Metabolomics and lipidomics</li><li>Native MS of protein complexes and antibodies</li><li>Targeted quantitation in clinical and environmental labs</li></ul>ESI also adapts to nearly any flow- from nanoliters to milliliters- via variants like nanoESI, capillaryESI, and heated ESI (HESI).<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Electrospray_101_What_to_Know_About_LC_MS_Sources_and_a_First_Look_at_Optispray_2_eadef535f2.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Electrospray 101: What to Know About LC-MS Sources – and a First Look at Optispray: Basic principle of electrospray ionization. A high-voltage needle forms a fine spray of charged droplets that shrink through solvent evaporation, releasing gas-phase ions for mass spectrometry." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Electrospray_101_What_to_Know_About_LC_MS_Sources_and_a_First_Look_at_Optispray_2_eadef535f2.jpg 237w," sizes="100vw" width="1024" height="675"><h3>3. Putting ESI sources to work on a Thermo Scientific platform</h3>If you have ever run a proteomics experiment on Thermo Scientific mass spectrometry solution, you have already handled at least two ESI sources:<ul><li>Thermo Scientific OptaMax NG ion source or Thermo Scientific OptaMax Plus ion source with the Thermo Scientific Heated Electrospray Ionization (HESI-II) Probe – easy installation into the MS face, this robust family of sources, paired with adaptable HESI-II probes, supports a wide range of flow rates from 1 – 2,000 µL/min, providing flexibility for various applications. Most proteomics laboratories use it for calibrations or quick QC injections: direct-infuse a Pierce FlexMix solution through the HESI probe and the instrument can calibrate to sub-ppm accuracy</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/2464">Thermo Scientific EASY-spray source</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/2463">Thermo Scientific NanoSpray Flex ion source</a> – once calibration is complete, the OptaMax ion source comes off and a low-flow source goes on. Thermo Scientific EASY-Spray HPLC columns combine LC column, liquid junction, and emitter in a single finger-tight connection, eliminiating dead volume and manual x-axis alignment. The NanoSpray Flex offers emitter and geometry control, providing flexibility for method development when custom configurations are needed.</li></ul>In a routine bottom-up proteomics run, you might equilibrate an EASY-Spray column on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/398">Thermo Scientific Vanquish Neo UHPLC</a>, calibrate the mass spectrometer using the OptaMax NG ion source fitted with HESI-II probe, then swap to an EASY-spray source loaded with your nanoLC column, and finally acquire a 30-minute DIA gradient on an <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1959">Orbitrap Astral Zoom mass spectrometer</a> - never touching the mass spectrometer itself, only exchanging the front-end source.<h3>4. Alternate source spotlight: Native MS with static nano-spray</h3>Electrospray isn’t limited to peptide gradients. In native MS the goal is to perform mass analysis on intact, non-denatured molecules- virus capsids, ribosomal subunits, even 10 MDa gene-therapy assemblies- without the salts and organic solvents required by LC. Here the workhorse is static nano-spray: load &lt;5 uL of volatile, salt-stripped buffer into a pre-conductive tip, let capillary action deliver a &lt; 50 nL/min plume straight into the MS inlet, and- because the analyte never touches a column- fragile complexes stay together long enough for high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis. The Nanospray Flex ion source with the Offline Nano Electrospray kit makes difficult-to-analyze native applications compatible with state of the art mass spectrometry. For example, it is often coupled with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/560">Thermo Scientific Q Exactive UHMR mass spectrometer</a> and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/748">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Ascend Structural Biology Tribrid mass spectrometer</a>. Static nano-spray highlights how choosing the right ion source- and the right accessories- opens new analytical spaces.<h3>5. Pain points in low-flow ESI- and why they matter</h3>Nano- and capillary-flow ESI deliver exquisite sensitivity but can frustrate even experienced users:<ul><li>Manual emitter alignment is operator-dependent</li><li>Dead volume between column, junction, and emitter broadens peak</li><li>Emitter wear forces frequent replacements and re-tuning</li></ul>For large-scale studies and labs with constant mass spectrometry up-time, that variability translates into lost samples, inconsistent quantitation, and extra QC overhead<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Electrospray_101_What_to_Know_About_LC_MS_Sources_and_a_First_Look_at_Optispray_3_35fab1de4d.jpg" alt="Thermo Fisher Scientific: Electrospray 101: What to Know About LC-MS Sources – and a First Look at Optispray" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Fisher_Scientific_Electrospray_101_What_to_Know_About_LC_MS_Sources_and_a_First_Look_at_Optispray_3_35fab1de4d.jpg 216w," sizes="100vw" width="768" height="555"><h3>6. Enter breaking technology: The Thermo Scientific OptiSpray Technology provides&nbsp;automated nano- and capillary-flow success</h3>Unveiled at ASMS 2025, the OptiSpray technology- including the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/2465">Thermo Scientific OptiSpray ion source</a> and Thermo Scientific OptiSpray cartridge- tackles these challenges head-on:<ul><li>Motorized 3D alignment runs a “quick” (&lt;3 minute) or “full” optimization routine that centers the spray plume on the inlet- no rulers, no guesswork, same result no matter who is installing the column.</li><li>Easy installation with cartridge-based consumables with integrated column, junction and emitter in a single unit. Choose the Thermo Scientific EASY-Spray PepMap Neo UHPLC column or Thermo Scientific μPAC Neo HPLC Columns- just click in the cartridge, pull the handle down, click once, and you are plumbed.</li><li>Emitter options for capillary or nanoflow two emitters—one that is tapered and is designed for capillary flow rates, and one that is pulled and is designed for nanoflow rates.</li><li>Visualization of emitter and spray provides confidence in spray stability and visualization of spray disturbances.</li><li>Platform compatibility The OptiSpray ion source docks directly on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products?search=Astral+">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Astral MS series</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products?search=Tribrid+">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Tribrid MS series</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products?search=Exploris">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris MS series</a>, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1958">Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Excedion Pro MS</a>, and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/products/1149">Thermo Scientific Stellar MS</a>, and pairs seamlessly with Thermo Scientific FAIMS Pro Duo interface- the automated alignment finds the emitter’s “sweet spot” in front of FAIMS Pro Duo interface for you.</li><li>Wide flow window (50 nl – 10 uL/min) means one source covers discovery DIA at 300 nl/min and high-throughput PRM at a few uL/min.</li><li>Proven robustness Early robustness data show &gt;2,000 HeLa digest injections with &lt;10% CV in peptide identifications.</li></ul>How OptiSpray technology helps: automated emitter alignment levels the playing field between new and experienced users, cutting out training time and human-introduced variability. Further, the sealed cartridge prevents carry-over and dead-volume inconsistencies. The result is reproducible, low-flow data, batch after batch, lab after lab, no matter who installs the column.<h3>7. Take home messages</h3><ul><li>Ion sources are the gatekeepers of detection. Choosing vacuum vs atmospheric- and within API, ESI vs APCI/APPI- dictates what you can detect.</li><li>Electrospray is the backbone of omics. Multiply charged ions bring biomolecules into reach of high-resolution mass analyzes, earning a Nobel nod and dominating modern workflows.</li><li>OptiSpray streamlines low-flow operation by automating emitter positioning and eliminating manual alignment, enabling consistent, high-sensitivity data across users and experiments.</li></ul><blockquote>Questions about fitting the right source to your application? Contact us or explore the ASMS 2025 resource hub for application notes, workflow posters, and customer testimonials.Visit us on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/72003132/admin/dashboard/">LinkedIn:</a>&nbsp;#MassSpectrometry #IonSources #Electrospray #OptiSpray #Proteomics #Metabolomics #Lipidomics #ESI</blockquote>

Electrospray 101: What to Know About LC-MS Sources – and a First Look at Optispray

<h4>Traceability in the 19th century&nbsp;</h4>Once a dairymaid bought one kilo of flour from the local shop. Next day she returned to sell one kilo of butter to the shopkeeper. He then complained that 50 grams of the kilo were missing.&nbsp;<blockquote>Oh that is odd, the dairymaid said, to get the correct weight I used the kilo of flour you sold to me yesterday to weigh the butter!&nbsp;</blockquote><h4>Traceability today&nbsp;</h4>Traceability is the ability to trace, for example, the ancestors of a person or the origin of a product. The word can be derived from the Latin tractus = drawn or the verb trahere = to draw.&nbsp;Traceability can refer to documentation (e.g. a sampling procedure), a laboratory, analyst or method. But as in ISO/IEC 17025, this leaflet deals with traceability of measurement results. That is, measurement results have to be traceable to the metrological1 references used. To be specific, we use the term metrological traceability.&nbsp;<blockquote>The current VIM2 definition of metrological traceability is: property of a measurement result whereby the result can be related to a reference through a documented unbroken chain of calibrations each contributing to the measurement uncertainty2&nbsp;</blockquote><h4>The references&nbsp;</h4>Ideally the references should be the values of national and international standards expressed in SI units. The traceability is realised through chains of calibrations, the traceability chain. For temperature and many other physical quantities such as mass and time, the traceability is easily established.&nbsp;In addition, in chemistry the working standards are substances with defined purity, solutions of pure substances and matrix reference materials.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Metrological_Traceability_of_Analytical_Results_2_b809be57bc.jpg" alt="Douglas Hasbun: An “analyst” not knowing the traceability of his/her values for volume, time, mass, calibration solution concentration and temperature." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Metrological_Traceability_of_Analytical_Results_2_b809be57bc.jpg 157w," sizes="100vw" width="852" height="847"><h4>Temperature example - Traceability to SI&nbsp;</h4>The temperature of a sample can be traced back through a chain of calibrations to the reference, an SI traceable value of temperature at 0 °C.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Metrological_Traceability_of_Analytical_Results_3_9933347331.jpg" alt="Douglas Hasbun: Temperature example - Traceability to SI" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Metrological_Traceability_of_Analytical_Results_3_9933347331.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="926" height="432"><h4>Example – Mercury in tuna fish&nbsp;</h4>A measurement result (mass fraction) obtained for mercury in a tuna fish sample is 4.03 ± 0.11 mg/kg. The result is reported as total Hg on dry weight basis (105 ºC, 12 h determined on a separate sample portion) and the measurement uncertainty is reported with a 95 % level of confidence (coverage factor, k=2). In this case mercury was determined with a mercury analyser (cold vapour atomic spectroscopy) after a microwave digestion.&nbsp;The samples are weighed on a balance with a calibration certificate relating the weight measured to the SI unit of mass (kg).&nbsp;The acid digest is diluted in a volumetric flask where the manufacturer documents the traceability of the volume of the flask to a national standard.&nbsp;The calibration curve was prepared using a CRM (certified reference material) – a mercury standard with a certificate stating a quantity value of 0.998 ± 0.005 mg/L (k=2) and with traceability to pure mercury.&nbsp;The method is validated using an appropriate matrix CRM with a total mercury mass fraction of 1.97 ± 0.04 mg/kg (k=2). The purpose of the validation is to check the method performance.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Eurachem_Metrological_Traceability_of_Analytical_Results_4_1ef2bc4b97.jpg" alt="Douglas Hasbun: An “analyst” knowing the traceability of his/her values for volume, time, mass, calibration solution concentration and temperature" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Eurachem_Metrological_Traceability_of_Analytical_Results_4_1ef2bc4b97.jpg 119w," sizes="100vw" width="808" height="1062"><h4>How can a laboratory demonstrate metrological traceability?&nbsp;</h4>The evidence required by the laboratory to demonstrate traceability for the mercury result is shown below:&nbsp;<ol><li>concentration of the Hg solution – a certificate for the CRM solution;&nbsp;</li><li>mass of sample – calibration certificate for the balance;&nbsp;</li><li>volume of volumetric flask – calibration certificate of the manufacturer;&nbsp;</li><li>drying temperature – calibration of oven temperature;&nbsp;</li><li>digestion conditions – calibration of e.g. temperature;&nbsp;</li><li>drying time – ordinary clock or stopwatch&nbsp;</li></ol>Point 1 would need special attention to assure the quality and traceability for the calibration standard. Traceability for points 2, 3 and 6 is easily achieved with adequate uncertainty using commercial equipment.&nbsp;Points 4 and 5 need additional attention by the lab.&nbsp;The use of the matrix CRM in the method validation is vital but not part of the traceability chain, since it is not used for calibration. If this CRM is used for recovery correction it should be part of the traceability chain.&nbsp;<h4>Measurement quality&nbsp;</h4><ul><li>Method validation demonstrates that the method (set of conditions) used in a particular laboratory at a certain time was fit for purpose and all significant effects were identified.&nbsp;</li><li>Calibration of critical equipment completes the metrological traceability chains.</li><li>Measurement uncertainty is estimated from the method validation and the traceability.&nbsp;</li><li>Quality control (internal and external) assures that the measurement results (including uncertainty) are of the same quality as at the time of validation.</li></ul><h4>Conclusion</h4>The traceability of a measurement result refers to metrological traceability as defined by VIM. It relates the result to SI units or other agreed standards/references.&nbsp;Traceability is essential for comparability of results and is a requirement of ISO/IEC 17025. Traceability is easily achieved following good laboratory practice.

Metrological Traceability of Analytical Results

Scientific conferences are defined not only by the quality of the research presented but also by the expertise and vision of their invited speakers. RAFA 2026 brings together internationally recognized scientists from academia, industry, and regulatory organizations to address some of today's most pressing challenges in food analysis and food safety. Their lectures will explore cutting-edge analytical techniques, emerging contaminants, food authenticity, artificial intelligence, high-resolution mass spectrometry, allergen risk assessment, PFAS, microplastics, mycotoxins, and many other topics shaping the future of food analysis. This overview introduces the distinguished invited speakers and the scientific highlights they will present at RAFA 2026.<h3>Registration</h3><blockquote>👉<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://rafa.easyevent.eu/tickets/">Register to attend RAFA 2026!</a></blockquote><h4>Registration Fees</h4><ul><li>Regular registration (Until 30 September, 2026): € 855</li><li>Late registration (From 1 October, 2026): € 955</li><li>Student rate* (From 1 July, 2026): € 605</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.<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.<h3>Program</h3><h4>Invited Speakers</h4><h5>It takes a small step to fake food but a giant leap to authenticate</h5><ul><li>Nicolai Zederkopff Ballin from Danish Veterinary, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency, Glostrup, Denmark.</li></ul>It takes a small step to fake food but a giant leap to authenticate”: Exploring unresolved issues in food authentication. Food authentication includes not just analytical chemistry, but also nomenclature, validation procedures and reporting of results. These aspects have attracted increasing focus, but setting limits in food authentication has been largely absent. It is therefore time to discuss how to set maximum tolerable levels to enable consistent and comparable results in food authentication.<h5>Unravelling the mysteries of modified mycotoxins</h5><ul><li>Franz Berthiller from BOKU University, Vienna, Austria</li></ul>Modified mycotoxins are altered forms of mycotoxins, mainly formed by living plants on the field. They are not regulated, yet may contribute to toxicity. The presentations focuses on metabolites of fumonisin B1 and ochratoxin A, formed by maize plants.<h5>From bitter to better: Fixing off-flavors in plant proteins</h5><ul><li>Corinna Dawid from Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany</li></ul>Uncovering the chemistry behind flavor: the presentation explores how Sensomics and NMR interaction studies reveal the complex interplay between aroma compounds, taste perception, and the polymer matrix in wine.<h5>Imaging food: the power and the limits of seeing molecules in food</h5><ul><li>Laura Righetti from Wageningen University &amp; Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands</li></ul>Imaging techniques enable ‘seeing’ molecules in food and elucidating mechanisms of accumulation and transformation, e.g. during processing. However, their application to food and contaminants remains limited. This talk discusses both instrumental constraints and future opportunities.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RAFA_Laura_Righetti_e7bdda9942.jpg" alt="RAFA: Laura Righetti" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RAFA_Laura_Righetti_e7bdda9942.jpg 157w," sizes="100vw" width="900" height="895"><h5>Analysis of critical vitamins: novel structures and novel sources</h5><ul><li>Michael Rychlik Lab from Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany</li></ul>Growing population and dietary shifts lead to inadequate intake of folate, B6, and B12. The presentation introduces novel analytical methods (stable isotope dilution assays), identifies new sources, and assesses risks of certain dietary patterns.<h5>Sample-to-solution approaches for natural toxin analysis at the point of need</h5><ul><li>Gert Salentijn from Wageningen University &amp; Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands</li></ul>Taking analysis out of the lab is not trivial. Going beyond merely translating procedures from the lab to an out-of-lab setting, it requires a fundamentally different perspective on how we develop and deploy the tools to provide information at the point-of-need. In this, both the envisioned test, as well as the envisioned user are critical, and all the steps, from sample to solution, need to be considered.<h5>EFSA’s rapid risk assessment of cereulide in infants</h5><ul><li>Hans Steinkellner from European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy</li></ul>The EU has established procedures for rapid risk assessment in urgent situations. EFSA’s assessment of cereulide in infants demonstrated its ability to provide robust scientific support within a short timeframe during a crisis.<h5>Comprehensive strategies to unmask masked mycotoxins: from food matrix to gut microbiota</h5><ul><li>Milena Stranska from University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Prague, Czechia</li></ul>The lecture will address non-extractable modified mycotoxins and their biological relevance. Bioaccessibility will be assessed using in vitro digestion models with diverse fecal microbiota (toddlers, children, adults) and bioavailability using Caco-2-based intestinal models. High-resolution mass spectrometry will reveal biotransformation pathways and cellular metabolism of free and modified mycotoxins.<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.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/RAFA_Anneli_Kruve_5119012e5d.jpg" alt="RAFA: Anneli Kruve" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_RAFA_Anneli_Kruve_5119012e5d.jpg 155w," sizes="100vw" width="899" height="900"><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.

Invited Speakers at RAFA 2026 Symposium

Article

Product

Events

Academy

Scientists

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)

A unique company dedicated to serving science helping our customers drive productivity and accelerate results. Through our premier brands – Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific and Unity Lab Services.

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

Agilent Technologies

Wiley

Waters Corporation

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<blockquote>
Presenter: Scott Melis, PhD (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Scott Melis has a PHD in Physics from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and started with Agilent in 2021 as a Molecular Spectroscopy Application Scientist. In his graduate work, Scott studied nanoparticle formation and growth for a variety of applications. Projects that he worked with include developing processes to deposit and characterize semiconducting molecular nano-cocrystals for use in optoelectronic devices as well as controlling polymer nanoparticle size through rapid mixing conditions.
</blockquote>

Agilnt Technologies: UV/Vis Software Bootcamp

UV/Vis Software Bootcamp

<h5>This series will focus on:</h5>
<ul>
<li>An overview on how to ensure your LC system is performing optimally as well as the three main mechanisms that are available to adjust the selectivity of a separation</li>
<li>Allowable changes related to USP&lt;621&gt; with highlights on cost and time savings when modernizing your method</li>
<li>Column chemistry suggestions and tips on how to choose the appropriate column during method development</li>
</ul>
<h5>Who should attend?</h5>
Laboratory managers and scientists who would like to understand how method modernization can save you time and money, those who want to reduce method development time, and those who are curious about how to bring new technology into their laboratory.
<h3>PART 2: USP MONOGRAPHS: HOW TO MODERNIZE METHODS AND STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE</h3>
<ul>
<li>Review the allowable changes to USP monographs for gradient and isocratic assays</li>
<li>Examples of modernized assays from HPLC to UHPLC or UPLC</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Kenneth Berthelette (Senior Scientist, Waters Corporation Chemistry and Consumables Group)
</blockquote>
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Ken earned his Bachelor&#39;s of Science degree in Professional Chemistry from Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater Massachusetts, in 2010. He has been with Waters Corporation since March 2012 and has worked on several product launches including CORTECS columns, UPC2 Torus and Trefoil columns, and the Atlantis Premier BEH Z-HILIC column. He changed job functions in 2021 and now supports Chemistry Aftermarket initiatives. His focus on applications and customer education has led to several seminars and webinars on topics including method development, method modernization and transfer, HILIC separation techniques, and LC system troubleshooting.
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Waters Corporation: USP MONOGRAPHS: HOW TO MODERNIZE METHODS AND STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE

USP MONOGRAPHS: HOW TO MODERNIZE METHODS AND STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE

Review the allowable changes to USP monographs for gradient and isocratic assays. Examples of modernized assays from HPLC to UHPLC or UPLC.

USP: HOW TO MODERNIZE METHODS AND STILL BE IN COMPLIANCE

Thousands of polymeric compounds and materials have been developed over the years to optimize the properties and performance of products spanning nearly every industry. There are a few areas where characterizing these products can be important: first is performing a quick polymer identification for recycling purposes; second is quality control to identify product defects or failures; and third is reverse engineering to facilitate product development in a highly competitive marketplace.
Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy are especially useful for the analysis of polymers in an industrial setting because in most cases it does not require sample preparation or expensive consumables. Examples will be presented demonstrating the effectiveness of IR and Raman analysis in each of these categories.
Mass Spectrometry (MS) has become an indispensable tool for polymer analysis and has been widely used to study polymer structure and composition, end groups and additives, molecular weight distribution, and so on. MS analysis is extremely sensitive, allowing the detection and identification of minor polymer components and synthesis by-products, as well as low-level impurities and products of decomposition. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) allows performing rapid MS analysis without lengthy pre-separation and with minimal sample preparation. MALDI MS can provide structural and copolymer composition information, as well as be used for imaging of polymer surfaces, characterization of complex polymer mixtures, and many other analytical tasks.
In this webinar, we will discuss several MS analytical techniques and their applications for polymer analysis using real-life examples from the industry and academia.
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Presenter: Sergey V. Shilov, Ph.D. (R&amp;D Product Manager for North America, Bruker Optics)
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Dr. Sergey V. Shilov is the R&amp;D Product Manager for North America at Bruker Optics. Sergey joined Bruker in 2001. He is responsible for the support and development of new applications for the Bruker research FTIR systems. He received his Ph.D in 1992 from the Russian Academy of Sciences in Polymer Physics and his M.S. from St. Petersburg State University (Russia) in Physics in 1986. Alexander Von Humboldt foundation (Germany) awarded him research fellowship in 1996. Sergey published 37 papers in peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy, surface science, polymer and life-science applications. 
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Presenter: Kushal Modi (Business Development Manager, Polymers, and Industrial Chemicals, Bruker Applied Mass Spectrometry)
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Kushal Modi has been serving the scientific community for over 10 years. He joined Bruker in 2022 under the Applied Mass Spectrometry division after a legacy with Waters Corporation. He is a leading expert as a Business Development Manager and is currently supporting the polymers and industrial chemical markets nationally. 
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Presenter: Dr. Rebecca Pool (Editor Microscopy and Analysis, Wiley, Moderator)
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Rebecca is news editor of Microscopy&amp;Analysis and a freelance science journalist with a doctorate in Materials Science. She has published in Wiley Analytical Science, Nature Photonics, SPIE Photonics Focus, Physics World, Sci Fi Generation, Engineering and Technology magazine, WorldSteel and more.
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Wiley Analytical Science: Effective Analysis of Polymers Using IR, Raman Spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

Effective Analysis of Polymers Using IR, Raman Spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry

Examples will be presented demonstrating the effectiveness of IR and Raman analysis and will discuss several MS techniques and apps for polymer analysis.

Polymers Using IR, Raman Spectroscopy, and MALDI-TOF MS

This Seminar is designed to help chemists and lab managers become more familiar with the workings of Agilent’s newest software - OpenLab CDS.
Participants will listen to an Agilent expert and watch a series of live demonstrations.They will have amble opportunity to ask their own specific questions during the course of this seminar. Customers that are new to OpenLab CDS or are using an older software package from Agilent such as ChemStation would benefit from seeing the future of their laboratory software.
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Presenter: Richard Mutkoski (Laboratory Informatics Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Richard Mutkoski began with Agilent (HP) in 1995. He has been an Application Engineer in Agilent’s Laboratory Informatics for the past 18 years. Prior to his career at Agilent Rich spent 12 years in a variety of small pharmaceutical firms in both R&amp;D and QA/QC capacities affording him first-hand knowledge of those workflows, bottlenecks and challenges.
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Agilent Technologies: Get The Most Out of Your OpenLab CDS System – An Exploration of Agilent’s Newest Chromatography Data System

Get The Most Out of Your OpenLab CDS System – An Exploration of Agilent’s Newest Chromatography Data System

Become more familiar with the workings of Agilent’s newest software - OpenLab CDS.

Get The Most Out of Your OpenLab CDS System

Learn about the function and advantages of the new control panel including creating instruments, creating projects, activity logs, storage types and paths.
Learn the basic operations of user privileges including assigning permissions and roles, and license utilities.
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Presenter: Richard Mutkoski (Laboratory Informatics Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Richard Mutkoski has been a field representative for over 27 years for both hardware and software. In his current role as an Informatics Application Engineer, Rich presents technical solutions of the OpenLab suite of products to customers worldwide. Prior to his tenure at Agilent Rich spent 15 years in a variety of Pharma QA/QC and R&amp;D positions providing him a unique understanding of those workflows, bottlenecks and challenges.
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Agilent Technologies: Openlab CDS ChemStation Edition - Getting Started

Openlab CDS ChemStation Edition - Getting Started

Learn about the function and advantages of the new control panel including creating instruments, creating projects, activity logs, storage types and paths.

The FDA guidance for Computer System Assurance (CSA) is intended to reduce the time and effort of the Computerized System Validation (CSV) process without compromising regulatory compliance or data integrity.
The regulated life science industries generally consider the CSV process as burdensome and as a hindrance to adopting new automation technologies that could greatly improve the efficiency and productivity of their business. In this presentation we will examine the six major points of the CSA guidance and how they can be used to improve your CSV process. We will also examine Agilent’s validation services, our process efficiencies, and how we intend to integrate elements of the CSA guidance.
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Presenter: Michael Korbel (Sr. Compliance Consultant, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Michael has over 22 years of experience in regulated environments in the pharmaceutical and bio-tech industries. Half of Michael&#39;s career has been spent on the customer side of the industry in both IT and laboratory positions, supporting, qualifying, and validating regulated instruments and computerized systems. The other half has been spent providing consultative compliance service programs from the vendor side of the industry. His experience includes technical support and validation of both standalone and enterprise laboratory informatics systems, as well as instrument qualification, preventive maintenance, and relocation services. Michael’s current role at Agilent Technologies is to create new compliance consulting services for our regulated customers and implement them globally. Michael holds a B.S. in Biology, with minors in Chemistry and Environmental Science.
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Agilent Technologies: New FDA guidance “Computer System Assurance” and Agilent Validation Service Offerings

New FDA guidance “Computer System Assurance” and Agilent Validation Service Offerings

The six major points of the CSA guidance and how they can be used to improve your CSV process.

New FDA guidance “Computer System Assurance”

Now that you are using the OpenLab CDS system, why are you still using Excel?
Unlock the incredible calculation potential of your system. You have run a triplicate injection of standards and would like to determine the percent recovery of your samples against the average of those standards. This session will introduce you to the method of being able to do just that within OpenLab CDS WITHOUT the use of Excel.
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Presenter: Richard Mutkoski (Laboratory Informatics Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Richard Mutkoski has been a field representative for over 27 years for both hardware and software. In his current role as an Informatics Application Engineer, Rich presents technical solutions of the OpenLab suite of products to customers worldwide. Prior to his tenure at Agilent Rich spent 15 years in a variety of Pharma QA/QC and R&amp;D positions providing him a unique understanding of those workflows, bottlenecks and challenges.
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Agilent Technologies: Calculate Percent Recovery of Samples in OpenLab CDS

Calculate Percent Recovery of Samples in OpenLab CDS

The method of being able to do just that within OpenLab CDS WITHOUT the use of Excel.

This seminar introduces a powerful feature in OpenLab CDS: Custom Calculator.
OpenLab CDS users or chromatographers thinking of moving to OpenLab CDS from another data system can see how this unique feature allows the addition of user defined chromatography calculations directly into the OpenLab CDS data system.
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Presenter: Kathleen O&#39;Dea (Application Engineer, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Kathleen O’Dea has a 20 year history with Agilent’s OpenLab products. As an Informatics Application Engineer, Kathleen has visited customers around the world in a wide variety of market areas, helping them to select and implement OpenLab software products.
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Agilent Technologies: Introducing the Custom Calculator in OpenLab CDS

Introducing the Custom Calculator in OpenLab CDS

Powerful feature in OpenLab CDS: Custom Calculator.

Integration is essential to chromatography for the identification and determination of peak area and height.
Although Software does an excellent job with integration, chromatography is not always perfect and careful consider must be given to integration.
In this presentation, three essential integration topics are covered: Integration parameters--some basic parameters must be understood when reviewing chromatography to ensure optimal analyses. Integration techniques--the most appropriate for solving some common problems are discussed. Finally, manual intervention--given the overall goal to achieve robust integration, when and why manual integration should be performed.
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Presenter: Greg Hunlen (Application Scientist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Gregory Hunlen has served as an Application Scientist with Agilent Technologies since 2012. He applies his expertise to the Agilent Infinity II series of LC instruments, providing knowledge of LC solutions such as two dimensional LC and LCMSD workflows. He also delivers product demonstrations and lunch &amp; learns. As a key value, Greg likes to talk about maximizing the use of all features our technologies provide. Often, instruments are under-utilized perhaps as a lack of understanding of all that they can offer. When we explore these features, we discover that we can truly optimize the efficiencies of our instruments. Prior to joining Agilent, Greg spent 20 + years in the pharmaceutical research industry on the liquid phase chromatography side of drug development.
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Agilent Technologies: HPLC Integrate with Confidence

HPLC Integrate with Confidence

Integration parameters--some basic parameters must be understood when reviewing chromatography to ensure optimal analyses.

Are you an analyst, manager, or reviewer who needs to get work done but may not be in the lab?
Especially important today, remote access is a key feature that can increase productivity, reduce compliance costs and is a key part of a disaster recovery plan. This virtual seminar introduces options for thin client technology enabling all Masshunter, ChemStation or OpenLab CDS products to be accessed outside the lab, whether this is at from nearby desks, across sites, or from home.
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Presenter: Mike Ratto (Lab Informatics Applications Specialist, Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
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Mike Ratto has been with Agilent for 29 years as a field representative for both hardware and software products. In his current role as an Informatics Application Specialist, Mike presents technical solutions of OpenLab family of products to customers all over the world.
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Agilent Technologies: Agilent Software products and Architecture to enable work from home options

Agilent Software products and Architecture to enable work from home options

Options for thin client technology enabling all Masshunter, ChemStation or OpenLab CDS products to be accessed outside the lab.