Laboratory Excellence and AccreditationMass Spectrometry: LC-MS and GC-MS Operation
Mass spectrometry identifies and quantifies compounds at concentrations no other routine technique reaches, and it produces confident numbers from a badly prepared sample just as readily as from a good one. This course covers using it properly. Delegates work through ionisation and mass analyser principles to the depth an operator needs, coupling to gas and liquid chromatography and what each suits, and sample preparation and clean up, which determines most of the outcome. Acquisition modes including full scan and selected reaction monitoring are covered. Quantification with internal standards and the correction of matrix suppression follow. Spectral interpretation and library matching are addressed with their limits. The course closes on maintenance, tuning and troubleshooting sensitivity loss.
Course objectives
- Explain ionisation and mass analyser principles at an operating level
- Select gas or liquid chromatography coupling for an analyte
- Prepare and clean up samples to protect the instrument and the result
- Choose acquisition modes appropriate to the analysis
- Quantify using internal standards and correct for matrix suppression
- Interpret spectra and use library matching within its limits
- Maintain, tune and troubleshoot loss of sensitivity
Who should attend
- Analytical chemists and laboratory analysts
- Food, environmental and pharmaceutical testing staff
- Forensic and toxicology laboratory personnel
- Method development chemists
- Laboratory managers overseeing instrument investment
Course outline
- 01Confident numbers from a poor sample
- 02Ionisation and mass analysers
- 03Coupling to gas and liquid chromatography
- 04Sample preparation and clean up
- 05Acquisition modes
- 06Quantification and internal standards
- 07Matrix suppression and correction
- 08Spectral interpretation, maintenance and troubleshooting
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 to 25 September 2026 | Maputo, Mozambique | Classroom | USD 1,325 per delegate | Register Now |
| 23 to 27 November 2026 | Cape Town, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 30 November to 4 December 2026 | Pretoria, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 28 December 2026 to 1 January 2027 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 11 to 15 January 2027 | Online | Online | R8,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 22 to 26 March 2027 | Gaborone, Botswana | Classroom | R19,950 per delegate | Register Now |