English Product Name

Overview

The LCTech FREESTYLE SPE EVA is a fully integrated, single-channel automation platform engineered for end-to-end sample preparation in regulated and research laboratories. It performs sequential, unattended operations—pre-concentration, solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification, and final quantitative concentration—in a single instrument cycle. The system operates on dual physical principles: positive-pressure-driven liquid handling for reproducible cartridge conditioning, loading, washing, and elution; and low-temperature vacuum evaporation combined with programmable nitrogen blow-down for gentle, precise volume reduction. Its conical, needle-free, line-free concentration chamber eliminates dead volume and internal surface adsorption, ensuring volumetric accuracy at final setpoints (e.g., 0.5–2.0 mL). Designed for compliance-critical workflows, the FREESTYLE SPE EVA supports method traceability, audit-ready operation logs, and hardware-level redundancy to maintain uninterrupted processing—even during cartridge clogging events.

Key Features

• Fully automated, walk-away SPE and quantitative concentration in one platform—no manual transfer between instruments.
• Positive-pressure fluid delivery system (up to 4 bar) enables precise, pulse-free flow control across all SPE steps, improving retention and recovery consistency for diverse analytes (e.g., mycotoxins, pharmaceuticals, environmental contaminants).
• Patented overpressure protection mechanism automatically bypasses blocked cartridges without pausing the run or requiring operator intervention—ensuring high throughput and robustness in routine QC labs.
• Modular concentration module combines water-jacketed PID-controlled heating blocks (ambient to 80 °C) with vacuum-assisted evaporation (2 mbar minimum) and optional enhanced nitrogen purge—enabling staged, compound-specific concentration profiles.
• Chemically resistant wetted path: 316 stainless steel manifolds, PTFE-sealed valves, and borosilicate glass concentrator vessels ensure compatibility with aggressive solvents (e.g., acetonitrile, dichloromethane, methanol) and long-term stability under GxP conditions.
• Integrated variable-frequency, oil-free chemical-resistant diaphragm pump (0.8 m³/h, 2 mbar–1013 mbar range) provides stable vacuum control without maintenance-intensive oil changes or solvent backstreaming risks.
• Vortex-enhanced evaporation chamber minimizes foaming and aerosol formation, reducing cross-contamination risk between samples—critical for low-level residue analysis in food and clinical matrices.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The FREESTYLE SPE EVA accommodates standard 1 mL, 3 mL, and 6 mL SPE cartridges—including silica-based, C18, mixed-mode, and immunoaffinity columns—with retention of original column caps to preserve antibody integrity during automated loading. It supports validated methods aligned with ISO 17025, AOAC Official Methods®, and EU Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 for mycotoxin analysis. Instrument firmware includes configurable electronic signatures, full audit trail (user actions, parameter changes, error logs), and time-stamped run reports—facilitating compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 11, GLP, and GMP documentation requirements. All hardware components meet CE and RoHS directives.

Software & Data Management

The system is operated via LCTech’s intuitive, Windows-based MethodStudio software—designed for method development, validation, and routine execution. Users define multi-step protocols with independent control over flow rates, dwell times, vacuum ramp profiles, temperature gradients, and nitrogen pressure thresholds. Software enforces parameter interlocks (e.g., preventing nitrogen purge before solvent removal completion) and supports CSV export of raw data, calibration curves, and QC summaries. Integrated instrument diagnostics monitor pump performance, valve actuation cycles, and temperature stability—generating predictive maintenance alerts prior to failure.

Applications

• Quantitative determination of regulated mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, deoxynivalenol) in cereals, feed, and dairy using immunoaffinity column cleanup followed by HPLC-FLD or LC-MS/MS.
• Residue analysis of veterinary drugs and pesticides in urine, blood plasma, and tissue homogenates—meeting EU MRL and US FDA residue chemistry guidelines.
• Environmental monitoring of PAHs, PCBs, and organochlorine pesticides in wastewater, soil extracts, and air particulate filters per EPA Methods 8270/8082 and ISO 18333.
• Forensic toxicology workflows requiring high-recovery, low-background cleanup of amphetamines, opioids, and benzodiazepines from biological specimens.

FAQ

Can the FREESTYLE SPE EVA be used with third-party SPE cartridges?
Yes—it accepts all commercially available 1 mL, 3 mL, and 6 mL cartridges without adapter kits, including those from Waters, Agilent, Thermo Fisher, and Macherey-Nagel.

Does the system support method validation according to ISO/IEC 17025?
Yes—full electronic records, user authentication, parameter change logging, and calibration history are embedded in the software architecture to satisfy ISO/IEC 17025 clause 7.7 requirements.

What is the minimum final volume achievable with the quantitative concentration module?
The system achieves precise endpoint volumes from 0.25 mL to 2.0 mL, with ±1% volumetric repeatability (n=6) verified using gravimetric calibration.

Is remote monitoring or integration with LIMS possible?
MethodStudio supports OPC UA communication protocol and exports structured XML/CSV files compatible with major LIMS platforms (e.g., LabWare, STARLIMS, Thermo SampleManager) via secure FTP or network share.

How is carryover minimized during high-throughput runs?
Automated solvent rinsing of the fluid path, vortex-enhanced evaporation geometry, and PTFE-coated valve internals reduce carryover to <0.05% (measured with caffeine and sulfamethoxazole reference standards).