AB SCIEX QTRAP 4500 Hybrid Triple Quadrupole / Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer (Refurbished)

Overview

The AB SCIEX QTRAP 4500 is a hybrid triple quadrupole / linear ion trap mass spectrometer engineered for high-sensitivity quantitative and qualitative analysis in regulated and research-intensive laboratories. Built upon the proven architecture of the QTRAP 4000 platform and enhanced with performance innovations from the QTRAP 5500 series, this system delivers robust, reproducible LC-MS/MS data across diverse application domains—including clinical toxicology, pharmaceutical bioanalysis, metabolomics, and environmental contaminant screening. Its core measurement principle integrates tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with linear ion trap (LIT) capabilities, enabling both highly selective multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) quantification and information-dependent acquisition (IDA) for structural elucidation. The instrument employs electrospray ionization (ESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) as primary ion sources, coupled with a QJet ion funnel for efficient ion transmission and reduced neutral gas load—critical for maintaining vacuum integrity and signal stability during extended runs.

Key Features

• QJet Ion Funnel Technology: An RF-only quadrupole-based ion guide that enhances ion capture efficiency and focuses ions into Q0 while minimizing neutral gas entrainment—improving overall sensitivity by up to 3× compared to conventional skimmer-based interfaces.
• eQ Electronics Platform: A next-generation electronics architecture supporting polarity switching in ≤50 ms without duty cycle loss; enables simultaneous positive/negative mode scanning and preserves full mass accuracy during precursor ion and neutral loss scans.
• Curved LINAC Collision Cell: A high-pressure, bent linear acceleration cell optimized for efficient collision-induced dissociation (CID), delivering consistent fragmentation kinetics and improved MRM₃ performance for complex matrix analysis.
• AcQuRate Pulse-Counting Detector: A hybrid detection system combining pulse-counting and analog modes—delivering superior signal-to-noise ratio at low-abundance analyte levels and eliminating baseline drift artifacts common in analog-only detectors.
• Linear Ion Trap Scanning: Capable of scanning at up to 20,000 amu/sec, enabling rapid MS³ experiments and real-time spectral library matching without compromising chromatographic resolution.
• Extended Mass Range: Supports full-scan operation from m/z 5 to 2000 via optimized RF frequency (940 kHz), ensuring reliable detection of small molecules, peptides, and modified lipids within a single method.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The QTRAP 4500 demonstrates broad compatibility with liquid chromatography platforms, including Agilent 1290 Infinity II UPLC, Eksigent ultraLC/microLC systems, Shimadzu Nexera, and Waters ACQUITY UPLC. It supports a wide range of ion sources—ESI, APCI, NanoSpray III, DuoSpray, PhotoSpray, LDTD, and Triversa Nanomate—facilitating seamless method transfer across sample types (plasma, urine, tissue homogenates, environmental extracts). The system meets essential regulatory requirements for GLP and GMP environments: raw data files are timestamped and immutable; Analyst software supports 21 CFR Part 11-compliant audit trails, electronic signatures, and user-access controls when deployed with validated IT infrastructure. All refurbished units undergo full functional verification per SCIEX Service Bulletin SB-2018-001 and include calibration verification using standard tuning mix (e.g., reserpine, MRFA, leucine enkephalin).

Software & Data Management

The instrument ships with licensed copies of Analyst v1.7 (for acquisition and MRM optimization), MultiQuant v3.0.3 (for batch processing, peak integration, and QC reporting), and PeakView v2.2 (for identification workflows, spectral deconvolution, and library searching). Data files (.wiff) are structured in a hierarchical, vendor-native format compatible with third-party platforms such as Skyline, Compound Discoverer, and Simca-P+ for multivariate statistical analysis. All software installations are performed on dedicated Windows 10 Pro x64 workstations with SSD storage, 32 GB RAM, and dual-monitor support. Backup imaging and configuration documentation are provided, ensuring traceability and facilitating future revalidation.

Applications

The QTRAP 4500 is routinely deployed in applications requiring both quantitative rigor and structural confidence: therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) with sub-ng/mL LLOQs in human plasma; pesticide residue screening in food matrices per EU SANTE/11312/2021 guidelines; targeted lipidomics using MRM₃ for phospholipid class differentiation; and forensic toxicology workflows compliant with SWGTOX standards. Its ability to execute scheduled MRM with retention time windows, combined with dynamic background subtraction and isotopic ratio validation, ensures compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 analytical validity criteria. In discovery settings, its IDA capability enables automated selection of top-N precursors for MS²/MS³, supporting confident annotation in untargeted metabolomics studies.

FAQ

Is this unit fully refurbished and tested prior to shipment?
Yes—each QTRAP 4500 undergoes comprehensive hardware diagnostics, vacuum integrity testing, mass calibration verification, sensitivity validation (using 1 pg/µL reserpine), and software functionality checks per SCIEX-recommended protocols.
What documentation accompanies the system?
You receive a Certificate of Inspection, detailed service history log, calibration reports, software license certificates, and a complete set of operational manuals (electronic and printed).
Can the system be qualified for use in a regulated environment?
Yes—the platform supports IQ/OQ documentation packages aligned with ASTM E2500-13 and USP ; installation qualification templates and test scripts are available upon request.
Does the warranty cover on-site service?
The 6-month limited warranty includes remote diagnostics and, where contractually agreed, on-site engineer dispatch for critical hardware failures within North America and Western Europe.
Are consumables and spare parts included or available separately?
Standard consumables (ion source components, ESI needles, pump seals) are stocked and available under separate quotation; extended spares kits can be ordered with the system.