Agilent Certified Refurbished 5973N Single Quadrupole Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MSD) System

Overview

The Agilent Certified Refurbished 5973N Single Quadrupole Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MSD) System is a rigorously requalified benchtop analytical platform engineered for robust qualitative and quantitative analysis of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Based on electron ionization (EI) and optional chemical ionization (CI) sources, the 5973N employs a mass-filtering single quadrupole mass analyzer coupled with Agilent’s industry-standard 6890 or 7890 series gas chromatographs. Its design emphasizes operational stability, reproducible spectral acquisition, and compatibility with legacy GC/MS methods—making it especially valuable for laboratories maintaining method continuity, conducting routine environmental testing, residual solvent analysis, or forensic screening where regulatory traceability and historical data alignment are critical.

Key Features

• Factory-certified refurbishment process conducted exclusively by Agilent-authorized service centers, adhering to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) technical specifications and calibration protocols.
• Comprehensive hardware renewal: all consumable components—including ion source parts, detector assemblies, vacuum system seals, and electronics modules—are replaced with genuine Agilent new-condition parts.
• Full functional validation: each unit undergoes system suitability testing per ASTM E2040 and ISO/IEC 17025-aligned performance verification, including sensitivity (e.g., 1 pg octafluoronaphthalene signal-to-noise ≥ 50:1), mass accuracy (±0.1 u), and retention time stability (RSD < 0.05 min over 24 h).
• Updated front panel and user interface housing to reflect current Agilent industrial design standards while preserving full backward compatibility with existing ChemStation software environments.
• Included startup accessories: certified EI ion source, standard tuning compound vial (PFTBA), vacuum pump oil, and GC column ferrules—ensuring immediate operational readiness upon installation.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The 5973N supports direct coupling to capillary GC columns (0.1–0.53 mm ID) and accommodates split/splitless, on-column, and PTV inlets. It is routinely deployed in applications governed by EPA Methods 502.2, 524.2, 8260C, and 8270D; USP and ; and ISO 17025-accredited testing workflows. All refurbished units are delivered with documented traceability to original manufacturing lot numbers, service history logs, and a Certificate of Refurbishment that includes pre- and post-refurbishment performance test reports. The system meets essential electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and safety requirements per IEC 61010-1 and UL 61010-1, and supports audit-ready operation under GLP and GMP frameworks when paired with ChemStation configured for 21 CFR Part 11 compliance (with appropriate user access controls and electronic signature modules).

Software & Data Management

The 5973N operates natively with Agilent ChemStation (G1701DA/E02.02 or later), providing full control of GC parameters, MS acquisition modes (scan, SIM, autotune), spectral library searching (NIST/EPA/WHO), and quantitative report generation. Data files (.D directories) are fully interoperable with modern Agilent MassHunter software via conversion utilities, enabling long-term archival consistency. Refurbished systems include licensed ChemStation software media and activation keys valid for the warranty term. Audit trail functionality, instrument method versioning, and raw data integrity safeguards are enabled by default—facilitating compliance with laboratory quality management systems requiring documentation of method changes, user actions, and calibration events.

Applications

• Environmental analysis: detection and quantification of pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, chlorinated hydrocarbons, and VOCs in water, soil, and air matrices.
• Pharmaceutical quality control: residual solvent testing per ICH Q3C guidelines; extractables and leachables profiling from packaging materials.
• Food and flavor chemistry: identification of off-flavors, adulterants, and aroma compounds using spectral deconvolution and retention index matching.
• Forensic toxicology: confirmation of controlled substances and metabolites in biological fluids using selective ion monitoring (SIM) and spectral matching against reference libraries.
• Academic and method development labs: cost-effective platform for teaching GC/MS fundamentals, optimizing EI/CI parameters, and validating new sample preparation protocols.

FAQ

What does “Agilent Certified Refurbished” mean?
It signifies that the instrument has been restored to factory-specified performance standards by Agilent-trained engineers using only genuine Agilent parts, followed by full functional and sensitivity testing against OEM benchmarks.
Is the 1-year warranty identical to that of a new 5973N system?
Yes—the warranty covers parts, labor, and technical support for 12 months from the date of shipment and includes remote diagnostics and priority escalation through Agilent’s global service network.
Can this system be integrated into a modern laboratory IT infrastructure?
Absolutely. The 5973N communicates via standard RS-232 or GPIB interfaces and is compatible with LIMS integration via ChemStation’s OLE/COM automation interface or ASCII report export.
Are consumables and service contracts available post-warranty?
Yes. Agilent offers extended service agreements (ESA), preventive maintenance plans, and guaranteed availability of spare parts—including ion sources, filaments, and turbomolecular pump components—for the full lifecycle of the 5973N platform.
Does the refurbishment include software licensing updates?
Each unit ships with a valid ChemStation license key and installation media compatible with Windows 7/10 (32-bit). Migration support to newer operating systems is available through Agilent’s software upgrade path program.