New Equipment
Truesdail just brought on-line what we believe to be state-of-the-art in new instrumentation for trace-level drug screening. We added a new Thermo Instrument Exactive LC/MS. This system is equipped with Thermo's Orbitrap Accurate Mass Technology coupled with Thermo's Accela 600 UHPLC and CTC auto-sampler.
The Thermo Exactive provides sensitivity equal to many of the higher-priced triple-stage quadrupole instruments, and the Exactive offers the ability to more easily expand the list of compounds being sought.
The Exactive allows for polarity switching so rapid that a much broader range of compounds can be sought in the same run.
Software compatibilities with the Exactive allows comparison of full MS and HCD scans to provide accurate masses of both precursor and fragment ions, which, in turn, enhances our ability to identify unknown compounds.
Most triple-stage quadrupole instruments search only for a specific list of compounds determined in advance by the operator. After a run they do not identify unknowns and data cannot be reanalyzed for new compounds. In contrast, the Exactive can seek compounds not on the original target list, and data records can be examined at a later time for compounds that were not on the list when the samples were originally tested.
New Certifications
In September 2009 Truesdail was pleased to receive notice that we had completed the process to obtain accreditation from ACLASS for testing per ISO/IEC Guide 17025. There are two main areas where we have gained accreditation. The first is a broad coverage to multiple types of chemical and immunological analysis applied to the testing of trace levels of drugs in animals (primarily, but not limited to racing horses and dogs).
Our second area of accreditation covers the broad scope of testing for the safety of products intended for children using the Consumer Products Safety Commission methods (and others). Our scope covers testing of toys, jewelry, packaging, furniture, textiles, etc. for toxic materials such as lead and other heavy metals and organic chemicals such as phthalates.
Testing For 1,4 Dioxane and for Hydrazines
Truesdail adds two new environmental sample testing procedures. We now offer testing for 1,4 Dioxane and for the common forms of hydrazine propellants.
1,4 Dioxane is a fairly common industrial solvent that was associated with the manufacture of explosives. It has been a compound of concern since the explosive precursor perchlorate was found in drinking water supplies. Truesdail has been able to modify EPA Method 8270, employing isotope dilution techniques, to detect this compound. We have been able to determine a MDL of 0.2 ppb for clean water with a PQL of 1.0 ppb.
Hydrazine compounds are a contaminants resulting from jet afterburners, rocket fuels, and other military propulsion systems. The compounds UDMH (1,1 dimethlyhydrazine), MMH (monomethylhydrazine), and hydrazine are sought in samples from various military bases. Truesdail has been able to modify EPA 8315 to detect these compounds. MDL's and PQL's are as follows: UDMH, MDL 2.0 ppb, PQL 5 ppb; MMH, MDL 2.0 ppb, PQL 5 ppb; and hydrazine, MDL 0.5 ppb, PQL 2 ppb.
Please see our Hydrazine Page for more information.
