Survey on HPLC Sample Preparation

Do you feel like sample prep is taking up all your time? If you answered yes then you aren’t alone according to this recent survey from Lab Manager Magazine. The results of 245 lab professionals show that in chromatography about 80% of their time is spent on the process of sample preparation – from collection to data management. This survey found that filtration is the most common technique used to achieve sample preparation, with Solid Phase Extraction also ranking as a common method. Add these results together and it looks like quite a few of you are spending a lot of time with our products. So the question becomes, how can you improve your sample preparation process? When asked this question, 97% of respondents said they would look to lower costs, such as by using less solvent or using cheaper materials.

Techniques Used for Sample Preparation
Filtration	20%
Solvent Extraction	18%
Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE)	15%
Solid Phase Extraction (SPE)	14%
Protein Precipitation (PPT)	7%
Dialysis	4%
Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME)	4%
Immunoaffinity Extraction (IAE)	3%
Matrix Solid Phase Dispersion (MSPD)	2%
Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE)	2%
Other (please specify):	11%

One area we can assist in is providing a number of cost-efficient syringe filters for HPLC solutions. Low cost Cellulose Acetate and Polyethersulfone filters are available in an assortment of pack sizes for any budget, and our discounts on expired or soon to expire sterile syringe filters are a great value. Have you mastered the art of HPLC sample prep? What other activities are eating up your time? Click on the title to share your tips in the comments!