HPLC maintenance/troubleshooting

This chapter describes how to be more successful in HPLC operation by summarizing a series of standard operating procedures representing the best practices of experienced HPLC analysts. It offers some brief guidelines on maintenance/troubleshooting and on means of enhancing HPLC assay precision. 

Most importantly, this book was written as an updated reference guide for busy laboratory analysts and researchers. Topics covered include HPLC operation, method development, maintenance/troubleshooting, and regulatory aspects. This book can serve as a supplementary text for students pursuing a career in analytical chemistry. A reader with a science degree and a basic understanding of chemistry is assumed. 

A summary update of best practices in HPLC operation, method development, maintenance, troubleshooting, and regulatory compliance. 

This section contains a list of steps the analyst can take to ensure successful HPLC operation and includes highlights of key maintenance and troubleshooting strategies. 

Referring to the maintenance and troubleshooting sections of an instrument s manual is highly recommended. Many individuals consult manuals only after a catastrophic failure and then only when all other problem-solving approaches have been exhausted. Modern HPLC systems often have self-diagnostic capabilities that help isolate the problem area within the instrument. 

Practical HPLC Methodology and Applications Practical HPLC Method development (Both the last ones are suitable for careful study of a method development and optimization.) Troubleshooting HPLC Systems, a Bench Manual (general hints, maintenance and troubleshooting of the HPLC equipment). 

Many of the techniques described above, excipient compatibility, blend uniformity by HPLC dissolution, and content uniformity/assay by HPLC can be effectively automated by robotic sample preparation. Each of these techniques requires that the sample under study be dissolved in an appropriate solvent and fully extracted from any excipients. There are a number of commercially available products that have proven to be effective and robust in this sample preparation role. This robotic process can reduce both the analyst hours required to prepare a number of samples, and turnaround time on the sample analysis, since the robotic systems will operate unattended over night and on weekends. There is of course a cost to pay for laboratory automation. There is a significant capital cost, and then an ongoing maintenance cost for the continued operation of the system. Also it is critical that a specialist be available in-house to care for the system, develop the methods, and troubleshoot any issues with the system. The cost of the system and specialist must be weighed against the advantages of speed and lab capacity enhancement realized with a successful automation implementation. 

I have attempted to address these needs in two other texts— through method review and summary in The HPLC Solvent Guide, 2nd edition, and through description of the use and maintenance of LCs in Troubleshooting HPLC Systems A Bench Manual. 

---