Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry equipment

Also, new-generation HPLC instrument which can exceed the pressure limitation of conventional equipment has been developed. This technique is ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), where small particle size columns with 1.7 pm particle size in combination with high flow rates offers increased speed, resolution, and sensitivity [15]. Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) has shown to be well suited for support of PK studies [16-19], Often, there is a need to improve the sensitivity of the assay for the determination of PK parameters, especially for very potent compounds, since lower amount is administrated, and also for compounds with low bioavailability. UPLC-MS/MS has shown decreased ion suppression and superior sensitivity, and has been successfully applied to PK studies for compounds with low bioavailability [20-22]. 

Bolechova, Caslavsky, Pospichalova, and Kosubova report a protocol for the extraction of selected pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in feed. They determined PAs using an ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC) system coupled to a tandem mass spectrometry equipped with an electrospray interface (ESI). Their steps to extract alkaloids for this determination are as follows ... 

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