Drug Screens That Work

We have developed a mass spectrometry-based approach for discovery of small-molecule drugs that work by binding to structured regions of ribonucleic acids (RNA). This approach is called Multitarget Affinity/Specificity Screening... 

One analysis run takes 20 min, and the system is ready to measure the next sample after a total elapsed time of 30 min at the most. This means that the maximum capacity per day is 48 measurements, corresponding to a capacity limit of ca. 40 samples. The other 8 analytical runs are required for the quality assurance of the analysis. Based on 250 working days, this method shows that 10 000 drug screening measurements should be possible per year. 

On the other hand, these calculations indicate that the treatment of more than 10 000 samples per year per machine is unrealistic, as periods during which the equipment is out of commission for the exchange of columns, inserts and septa and for all the many and various types of maintenance work are unavoidable. Continuing to use the above example, if more than 10 000 measurements per year are required in die field of drug screening, the calculation shows that the procurement of a second GC/MS must be considered. 

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