Agilent Ultivo Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System
| Brand | Agilent Technologies |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Manufacturer Type | Authorized Distributor |
| Origin Category | Imported |
| Model | LCMS-Ultivo |
| Instrument Type | Triple Quadrupole |
| Application Field | General-Purpose |
| Mass Range | 10–2,000 m/z |
| Sensitivity | <5 fg on-column injected caffeine (S/N ≥ 100:1 for MRM) |
| Resolution | Unit mass resolution (0.7 Da full width at half maximum) |
| Accurate Mass Capability | Not applicable (triple quadrupole, not high-resolution) |
| Operating Pressure Range | Ion source: atmospheric pressure |
| Collision cell | ~2–3 mTorr |
| Analyzers & detector | <1 × 10⁻⁶ Torr |
Overview
The Agilent Ultivo Triple Quadrupole LC/MS System is a compact, stackable liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry platform engineered for high-throughput quantitative analysis in regulated and research laboratories. Unlike conventional triple quadrupole instruments occupying dedicated bench space, the Ultivo integrates directly into standard HPLC stacks—reducing footprint by up to 75% without compromising analytical performance. Its core architecture employs electrospray ionization (ESI) coupled with three radiofrequency-driven quadrupole mass filters: Q1 for precursor ion selection, Q2 as a pressurized Vortex Collision Cell for controlled collision-induced dissociation (CID), and Q3 for product ion filtering. This configuration enables robust multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), selected reaction monitoring (SRM), and triggered MRM (tMRM) workflows with high specificity, reproducibility, and duty-cycle efficiency—essential for compliance-driven applications such as food safety testing, environmental residue analysis, and pharmaceutical bioanalysis.
Key Features
- Micro-Vortex Collision Cell: Delivers efficient, low-noise fragmentation with rapid collision gas exchange—enabling high-speed MRM transitions (>500 transitions/sec) and eliminating cross-talk between adjacent analytes.
- Cyclone Ion Guide: A dynamically tuned RF ion funnel that compresses and focuses ion beams across wide m/z ranges while maintaining transmission efficiency—critical for signal stability during gradient LC elution.
- VacShield Vacuum Shield Technology: Allows maintenance of the ion source and front-end components without breaking high-vacuum conditions in Q2/Q3 regions—reducing system downtime by >80% compared to conventional vent-and-pump protocols.
- Stackable Form Factor: Dimensions of 34 × 50 × 52 cm (W × D × H) permit vertical integration with Agilent 1260/1290 Infinity II LC modules—optimizing lab floor planning and minimizing cable routing complexity.
- ESI-Only Configuration (Standard): Optimized for polar, thermally labile, and medium-molecular-weight compounds (e.g., pesticides, mycotoxins, pharmaceuticals, metabolites); optional Jet Stream ESI source available for enhanced sensitivity and robustness under variable flow rates.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The Ultivo supports direct coupling to reversed-phase, HILIC, and ion-pairing LC methods with flow rates from 0.05 to 2.0 mL/min. It accommodates complex matrices including honey, fruit juice, plasma, urine, soil extracts, and wastewater—validated per AOAC, ISO 17025, and FDA guidance documents. The system meets key regulatory requirements for data integrity: audit trails, electronic signatures, role-based access control, and instrument state logging are natively supported through MassHunter Software v10.x and later. Full traceability aligns with US FDA 21 CFR Part 11, EU Annex 11, and WHO TRS 996 Annex 6 for GLP/GMP environments.
Software & Data Management
Quantitative workflows are streamlined via MassHunter Quantitative Analysis software with “Quant-My-Way” guided setup—automating method development, calibration curve generation, and QC acceptance criteria application. The MassHunter Productivity App provides one-click report templating, automated outlier detection, and batch reprocessing—reducing analyst training time and accelerating review cycles by up to 40%. Enhanced Early Maintenance Feedback (EMF) monitors vacuum levels, detector gain, and ion optic voltages in real time—issuing predictive alerts before performance drift occurs. All raw data (.d files) and processed results are stored in secure, timestamped, immutable formats compliant with ALCOA+ principles.
Applications
The Ultivo excels in targeted quantitation where sensitivity, precision, and throughput converge. In food authenticity testing—such as honey adulteration screening—it detects trace-level antibiotics (e.g., chloramphenicol, nitrofurans), C4/C3 sugar syrups (via stable isotope ratio or marker compound profiling), and veterinary drug residues at sub-ppb concentrations. It is equally effective in clinical toxicology (e.g., therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressants), environmental analysis (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS), and impurity profiling per ICH Q3B(R2). Method transfer from legacy triple quad platforms is straightforward due to identical MRM logic and comparable dwell-time optimization algorithms.
FAQ
Is the Ultivo compatible with non-ESI ionization sources?
No—the Ultivo is designed exclusively for electrospray ionization (ESI) and its variants (e.g., Jet Stream ESI). It does not support APCI, APPI, or MALDI interfaces.
Can the system be upgraded to support high-resolution mass spectrometry?
No—Ultivo is a dedicated triple quadrupole platform. For accurate mass workflows, Agilent recommends the 6470 or 6495 series with optional iFunnel or Dual AJS enhancements.
Does Ultivo support 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic signatures?
Yes—MassHunter Software v10.0 and later includes fully validated electronic signature functionality with biometric or multi-factor authentication options, configurable approval hierarchies, and immutable audit trail export.
What is the typical maintenance interval for the Vortex Collision Cell?
Under normal operation (≤100 samples/day), cleaning is recommended every 6–12 months; VacShield-enabled access allows cleaning in <15 minutes without vacuum break.
Is method validation support available for regulated labs?
Agilent provides IQ/OQ/PQ documentation templates, system suitability test (SST) protocols, and application notes aligned with ICH M10 and USP <1225> guidelines—available through authorized service partners and Agilent’s Regulatory Support Portal.
