Analytical Services
We measure things in your samples using liquid chromatography (HPLC and UPLC), UV/PDA detection, refractive index detection, and mass spectrometry. You describe what you need to know. We handle the method, the instruments, and the data.
Core capabilities
Concentration measurement
How much of a compound is in your sample. Calibrated against reference standards. The default for most customers.
Purity and composition
How pure is your compound, or what does the peak profile look like. Area-percentage reporting without calibration.
Detection and screening
Is a specific compound present? A clear yes-or-no answer.
Identity confirmation (coming soon)
Mass spectrometric confirmation of compound identity. Verify that the peak you are measuring is the compound you think it is.
Refractive index detection
For compounds that UV cannot detect: sugars, polyols, organic acids, some solvents. Essential for fermentation monitoring. Available on our Shimadzu instruments.
Techniques
Reverse-phase HPLC and UPLC (available now) The workhorse for most small-molecule analysis. Pharmaceuticals, natural products, metabolites, food additives.
Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) (available now) For proteins, polymers, and aggregates. Run on dedicated instruments with high-salt capability.
Hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) (available now) Protein variant analysis. Dedicated high-salt instruments.
HILIC (available now) For polar compounds that do not retain well on reverse-phase columns.
LC-MS/MS (triple quadrupole) Targeted MRM quantitation for analytes at low concentrations or in complex matrices where UV detection is insufficient.
GC-MS Volatile and semi-volatile compound analysis. Residual solvents, flavour and fragrance profiling, and unknown compound identification.
Sample preparation
Some samples need preparation before analysis (filtration, dilution, solid phase extraction, or other techniques). We configure the preparation protocol during Method Setup and include the cost in your per-sample price. You do not need to decide what preparation is needed; we determine this during Setup.
If your samples require solid phase extraction (SPE), this is quoted as a separate SPE Setup (from £1,200) because it involves significant development work.
