Agilent 1260 Infinity III Multisampler Autosampler
| Brand | Agilent Technologies |
|---|---|
| Origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer Type | Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) |
| Product Origin | Imported |
| Model | 1260 Infinity III Multisampler |
| Instrument Type | HPLC Autosampler |
| Maximum Sample Capacity | 6144 samples |
| Operating Pressure | Up to 600 bar (standard), up to 800 bar (with optional high-pressure kit) |
| Carryover | <9 ppm |
| Temperature Control Range (optional integrated thermostat) | 4–40 °C |
| Sample Tray Configurations | Three-height drawer system supporting vials and microplates |
| Microplate Capacity | Up to 16 standard microplates per drawer |
Overview
The Agilent 1260 Infinity III Multisampler is a high-capacity, high-pressure autosampler engineered for seamless integration into Agilent’s InfinityLab LC ecosystem. It operates on the principle of precision robotic sample handling combined with dual-syringe aspiration and injection architecture, enabling true parallelism between sample preparation and chromatographic analysis. Designed for laboratories requiring unattended operation across extended sequences—such as pharmaceutical QC, biopharmaceutical stability studies, or large-scale metabolomics workflows—the Multisampler delivers deterministic sample introduction under pressures compatible with modern UHPLC systems (up to 800 bar with optional configuration). Its compact footprint—fully contained within the standard Agilent LC stack width—eliminates the need for auxiliary bench space while maintaining full scalability in sample throughput.
Key Features
- Dual-needle injection system: Enables overlapping of sample aspiration, needle wash, and injection cycles—reducing cycle time to under 10 seconds per injection without compromising reproducibility.
- Three-tier adjustable drawer architecture: Accommodates heterogeneous sample formats—including 1.5 mL vials, 2 mL vials, 96-well, 384-well, and 1536-well microplates—in a single instrument configuration.
- High-density microplate support: One drawer accepts up to 16 standard microplates, delivering a total capacity of 6144 samples (e.g., 384-well × 16 plates) without external expansion modules.
- Multi-solvent external needle wash + seat-backflush: Employs three independent wash solvents with programmable dwell times and pressure-assisted reverse flow through the needle seat—validated to achieve carryover <9 ppm across diverse analyte classes (e.g., peptides, small molecules, lipids).
- Integrated sample thermostat (optional): Provides active cooling and heating across 4–40 °C with ±0.5 °C stability, supporting temperature-sensitive injections required for thermolabile compounds or method transfer consistency.
- Intelligent drawer status indicators: LED feedback per drawer communicates loading state, active sampling position, error conditions, and real-time operational mode—accessible via front-panel interface or remote software control.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The Multisampler supports all common HPLC/UHPLC consumables compliant with ISO 8573-1 (compressed air quality) and ASTM D4176 (liquid handling accuracy standards). It is validated for use with Agilent’s full suite of LC columns, guard cartridges, and solvent delivery modules. The system meets ICH Q2(R2) requirements for method robustness and supports audit-trail-enabled operation under FDA 21 CFR Part 11 when deployed with OpenLab CDS 2.x or higher. Mechanical design adheres to IEC 61000-6-2/6-3 for electromagnetic compatibility and UL 61010-1 safety certification for laboratory instrumentation.
Software & Data Management
Fully controlled via Agilent OpenLab CDS (ChemStation Edition or CDS 2.x), the Multisampler integrates bidirectionally with sequence tables, method parameters, and audit trail logs. All hardware events—including drawer movement, needle actuation, wash cycles, and temperature setpoint changes—are timestamped and recorded with user attribution. Sequence-based thermal profiling allows dynamic adjustment of sample tray temperature per injection batch. Raw event logs are exportable in CSV/SQL format for LIMS integration or retrospective compliance review. Optional remote diagnostics via Agilent Remote Monitoring Service enable predictive maintenance alerts based on actuator cycle counts and wash solvent consumption trends.
Applications
- High-throughput stability-indicating assays in pharmaceutical development (ICH Q5C)
- Automated QC release testing of raw materials and finished products per USP and EP 2.2.46
- Long-duration unattended runs for environmental contaminant screening (e.g., PFAS, pesticides) per EPA Method 1694
- Biopharma characterization workflows including intact mass analysis, peptide mapping, and glycan profiling
- Academic core facilities supporting multi-user scheduling with role-based access control and queue prioritization
FAQ
Is the 6144-sample capacity achievable with all microplate formats?
Yes—capacity is calculated using 384-well plates; 96-well plate configurations yield 1536 samples per drawer (16 drawers × 96 = 1536), while 1536-well plates support 6144 wells per drawer (16 × 384 is not applicable—actual max is 16 × 1536 = 24,576 wells, but physical drawer constraints limit to 6144 total positions optimized for mixed-format loading).
Does the dual-needle system require method revalidation?
No—dual-needle operation does not alter injection volume accuracy or precision; Agilent provides IQ/OQ documentation demonstrating equivalence to single-needle performance per USP system suitability criteria.
Can the integrated thermostat be retrofitted to existing 1260 Infinity II Multisamplers?
No—thermal management is hardware-integrated at the chassis level; only 1260 Infinity III Multisampler units ordered with option G1367F include the thermostat module.
What wash solvent configurations satisfy <9 ppm carryover validation?
Validation was performed using acetonitrile/water (90:10), methanol/water (80:20), and 0.1% formic acid in water; alternative solvents require user-specific carryover testing per ICH Q2(R2) guidelines.
